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The Mediterranean coast tells a never-ending story. It hosts retreating sunsets, warm sunrises and unspoken desires. Amongst the local story-tellers there lies Aci Castello (Jaci Casteddu, in Sicilian), a city of the province of Catania. The Mediterranean is not far, only 9 km away, still further than the near-by cities of Aci Catena, Acireale, Catania, San Gregorio di Catania and Valverde.

Catania’s economic activity resides in agriculture and industry, adding up tourism as an important sector. The city isn’t quite a happy host of magnificent legacy of the past, but it does present to its public some of the most important Norman sites, which are embedded by their uniqueness in the realm of discovery attempts.

The Castle of Aci provides key elements to anyone who gets interested in studying the Norman age. The edifice was brought to life in 1076 by the Normans. Subsequent eruptions of Mount Etna determined reinforcement of the whole site.
Next to Catania, above the sea, the black-lava-stone castle launches an invitation to revealing its mysteries. Its location has always presented geographical perks which peoples from long ago learned how to exploit. Since Roman times the castle was an important fortified post. During the Roman period, Rocca Saturnia reigned over the site. The Norman led by Roger conquered it in 1072, subsequently to the victory of the Arabs.

The history of the castle is troubled, dominated by serial constructions, deconstructions and reconstructions. Still, the original structure joined by the pointed arches make a beautiful view over the past, by succeeding in preserving key elements.In 1787 a new transformation was brought upon the castle when the Bourbons turned it into a prison. Of all the stages of evolution, the construction currently preserves few of its original structures and adornments. A tower offers unique scenery over the Faraglioni of the Cyclops and the Isle of Lachea. An inner museum shelters a quite impressive archaeological collection.

Next to the Castle of Aci other testimonials can be noticed. The Museo Civico surrounds a beautiful botanical garden that makes part of a nature section. Parco Letterario Del Verga offers the possibility of travelling through the real counterparts of Verga’s descriptions. The readers are given a scarce chance of actually feeling the frame that brought about beautiful creations of the great writer. The Church of San Mauro has an interesting story itself. A silver-plated statue bears the proof of a sea captain’s gratitude towards the locals who gave him a hand with setting free his ship.

All this evidence represents only half of what it used to be. Breaths of the mysterious past are felt anywhere. Perceiving them is only a matter of close attention.