Maletto
Discovering Maletto's History
Maletto, or "Marettu" as it's called in the local dialect, is an Italian commune in the metropolitan city of Catania in Sicily with around 3,545 inhabitants. This small town has a rich history of legends and traditions, some of which relate to the origin of its foundation. According to popular tradition, Maletto was built around the Rocca del Castello, inhabited by a princess named Maletta or Marietta who commanded a band of fierce brigands. These brigands carried out raids in the surrounding areas and then took refuge in the castle, secure in the knowledge that they wouldn't be pursued due to the harshness and inaccessibility of the location. Around the Rocca, the brigands would have built the town of Maletto, which was named after the princess.
The Historical Origin of Maletto
This legend, although partly distorted by popular simplification, has its own historical basis. In fact, Maletto was inhabited during several periods by people seeking to escape the justice of the king. Historically, the origin of Maletto dates back to 1263, when the castle was built around which the town was constructed. During the Arab-Norman period, the Rocca was probably already fortified with a single tower that had functions of surveillance and signalling. This tower assumed military importance around the year 1263 when it was further fortified by Manfredi Maletta, count of Mineo and Monte Sant'Angelo in Puglia, founder of the city of Manfredonia.
The Figure of Manfredi Maletta
Manfredi Maletta or de Malectas was the son (or brother) of a more prestigious character of the Kingdom of Sicily, Federico Maletta, uncle of King Manfred of Sicily, son of the great emperor Frederick II of Swabia. Manfredi Maletta was also Vicar of the Kingdom and royal camerlengo, i.e., caretaker of the royal treasury, from 1258 to 1261, the year in which he was assassinated. The fortification of the Fano tower by Count Manfredi had several reasons, the most important of which was the creation of a southern defense to the city of Randazzo, which had become the residence of the king, with the entire court in tow.
Randazzo and its Importance
Randazzo had been, during the Norman period, a political-military stronghold in the conquest of Sicily by the Grand Count Ruggero. In the following years, the city grew in importance and wealth, becoming one of the residences of the most powerful and wealthy men of the Sicilian kingdom during the dominion of the Swabians and the Aragonese. The need to defend this city led to the construction of the Maletto Castle, which also served as a base for the Maletta family, who could control the surrounding territory.
Conclusions
The history of Maletto is one rich in legends and traditions, but also of important characters and historical events. The creation of the castle and the town around it represents an important moment in the history not only of Maletto but also of the entire eastern Sicilian region. Today, Maletto still preserves many of its ancient treasures, such as the Castle, the Church of San Nicolò, and the City Palace, which testify to its importance in the past and its beauty in the present. Maletto is a place to discover, where you can spend moments of relaxation and culture, immersed in the nature of the Etna Park and the Pantalica Oriented Nature Reserve.
