Height 400 m. on sea level
Tourist Office tel 0941958090
People 3350
Shopping:
embroideries, fried honey-cake “pignolata”
Artisan ice cream, Sicilian ricotta filled pastries “cannoli”,
“Nzuddi” (Sicilian biscuits)
How to get there: Highway A20, exit Rocca di Caprileone
The town is located between green hills and it stands in front of the Aeolian Islands. The modern town called Rocca di Caprileone is situated on the northern coast, going from Capo d’Orlando to Sant’Agata M.llo, in a fertile and pleasant lowland, at the foot of Zappulla River. The first news about the town dates back to the Norman age, but certainly its origin is far away in the time. At first Capri was a hamlet of San Marco d’Alunzio; in 1320 it belonged to Vitale De Alojsio. Then it was possessed by the Aragonas and in 1398 by Abbo Filangeri, in1408 by Lancellotto di Larçan, back to the Filangeri and finally by the Balsamos, the Brancifortes and the Cadornas in 1620. In 1865 it was given the name of Caprileone to be distinguished by other towns with the same name. In the last century the village Rocca di Caprileone had a great development due to the proximity to the sea. Even if the antique picturesque centre still keeps its historical memory, the town today lives a period of growth and modernity; there are many romantic spaces and places to walk. The local cuisine is refined, delicious and made with love and fantasy, and there are many typical restaurants where it is possible to taste it. The aim of the town government is to increase the propitious social and territorial situation of the hamlet Rocca, encouraging the economic-yielding processes, exploiting the natural resources and developing in the meanwhile the immigrating and working factor. This should lead to a rationalised and balanced growth of the town, which has already turned its old agricultural activities in commercial and industrial ones, creating and distributing resources.
| The old castle | The modern Rocco | Faranda square |
| It still keeps touchable proves of its ancient origin. The Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation (“Annunziata”) and its bell tower date back to the 16th century; the one dedicated to S. Costantino (17th century) maintains in its interior some valuable works: a 17th century altar-piece representing the Baptism of the Emperor and two 17th century paintings. In the main square there is a fountain and on the top a Romanic lion in red marble from which it spurs water. | It is the tourist side of the town. There are some contemporary works like the church dedicated to the Virgin of Czestochova, containing a painting of the patron of Poland, the Black Lady, signed by Pope Giovanni Paolo the 2nd, and the Sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin of Tindari, built on the top of a rock. | this is the meeting point for young people, and not only. It is called the “drawing-room of the town”, where at any time it is possible to meet someone. In the square there are many places for shopping. At the end of the square there is the main Church of the town and the parish-salon, site of religious and cultural events. |