Altolia
Welcome to Altolia!
Hello everyone! Today we will talk about Altolia, a beautiful hamlet in Messina located south of the city center, near the town of Scaletta Zanclea. This area is characterized by hills that overlook the valley of the Giampilieri river and has been inhabited since the Bronze Age.
Ancient history
During the Saracen raids, the coastal populations took refuge on the high hills, founding villages or enlarging existing ones. In this way, the site of Altolia came to life and prospered thanks to Arab domination, which introduced new crops, such as citrus fruits and especially mulberries. The latter gave impetus to the artisanal production of silk, which was of excellent quality and was exported to Italy and Europe until World War II.
Norman domination
During the Norman domination period, Altolia became a fiefdom of the Chiaromonte family, whose territory extended to the sea. Later, the village supported the Spanish during the anti-Spanish revolt of Messina in 1674-78, as the fiefdom of Scaletta was an ally of the Spanish. During these four years of fighting, the houses and villages in the valley were repeatedly looted and burned, by both the Spanish and the French.
Confiscation and expropriation
Despite supporting the Spanish during the revolt, at the end of hostilities, the lands in the valley between Altolia, Molino, and Giampilieri were confiscated and put up for sale. They were purchased by Francesco Piccinini on behalf of Don Placido Ruffo, Prince of Scaletta Zanclea and Floresta, who also became the Baron of Artalìa, Molino, and Giampilieri. However, in 1727 the lands were expropriated and returned to the royal demesne.
Other events
The village of Altolia has been relatively fortunate: the plague in 1743 did not affect it, nor did the various earthquakes that struck Messina in 1783, 1854, and 1908. The only major tragedy occurred in 2009 when it was devastated by the flood and landslide that caused 37 deaths along with the hamlets of Giampilieri Superiore, Giampilieri Marina, Molino, Briga Marina, Briga Superiore, and Scaletta Zanclea.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Altolia is a beautiful village characterized by beautiful hills. Thanks to its ancient origin, it has a long and rich history. This area not only has a very interesting culture, but it is also very beautiful to visit. If you have the opportunity, you absolutely must visit Altolia!
