Montagnareale
Montagnareale: a historic town
Montagnareale is a municipality in the metropolitan city of Messina in Sicily, with a population of 1393 inhabitants. The town is located in the northern Nebrodi mountains, in the group of Saraceni mountains. Montagnareale was originally known as Casale della Montagna and was dependent on Patti, a neighboring municipality, along with other hamlets. However, Montagnareale was the largest and most important hamlet as it provided products that were exported by Pattesi even abroad. The main activity of the town was pig and sheep breeding, intensive cultivation of chestnuts and figs, and a thriving silk and fiber industry. In 1636, Philip IV of Spain, engaged in the war against France, turned to the cities of his States, including Patti, imploring for financial assistance. Philip IV's letter arrived in Patti when the city was threatened by the separation of its most important hamlet, the present-day Montagnareale.
Autonomy and development of Montagnareale
With the support of Don Basilio Sidoti, a nobleman from Messina and a member of the patrimonial council, the Casale della Montagna had been working for some time to obtain autonomy. Despite the protests and threats from the city of Patti, the separation from the latter was accepted on the condition that the Montagnarealesi paid four thousand scudi to the Royal Court. In October 1636, the Casale della Montagna was already autonomous and took on the name Montagna Reale or Regia, indicating the liberation from pattese domination and the direct dependence on the Regio Demanio. The Rocca feud, which belonged to the city of Patti, was added to the territory of Montagnareale. Under the rule of the Ansalone and later the Vianisi, Montagnareale developed economically and demographically, despite plagues, famines, earthquakes, such as the Val di Noto earthquake of 1693. The population increased thanks to the "jus populandi" that brought part of the population of cities and demanial lands to feudal municipalities, including Montagnareale. This phenomenon caused the transfer of numerous laborers, farmers, and even Pattesi families to Montagnareale.
A war-torn town
During World War II, Montagnareale was bombed, which also involved the neighboring town of Patti. However, the historic center of Montagnareale did not suffer damage as only a few hamlets were hit. Surprisingly, an anonymous citizen managed to convince the German generals not to position an anti-aircraft weapon in the center of the town, a move that would likely have destroyed Montagnareale.
Symbols
The coat of arms, flag, and banner of the municipality of Montagnareale were granted by decree of the President of the Italian Republic in [year not specified].
