Romantic Night in the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy

Romantic Night in Castroreale

The Romantic Night in the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy is a national event promoted by the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy. Every year at the beginning of summer, it illuminates over two hundred villages across the country with candles, torches, and soft lighting. The village of Castroreale, in the province of Messina, is one of the Sicilian towns participating in the initiative, offering visitors an evening suspended between romance, history, and landscape.

An Aragonese village under the stars

Perched on the Peloritani mountains, just a few kilometers from the Tyrrhenian coast, Castroreale is a medieval jewel linked to Frederick II of Aragon, who ordered its expansion in the 14th century. During the Romantic Night, its most evocative spots become the stage for the event: the alleys of the historic center, Piazza delle Aquile with its panoramic view stretching from Capo Milazzo to the Aeolian Islands, the Tower of Frederick II, and the ancient Jewish quarter of the Giudecca. The candlelight and torchlight illumination transforms the stone walls into a perfect scenic backdrop for the evening.

The evening program

As in all the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy, the Romantic Night in Castroreale unfolds from sunset until late at night with a program of widespread events. Recurring highlights include:

• Concerts and live music in the squares of the historic center
• Guided walks to discover medieval monuments and districts
• Poetry readings and storytelling sessions beneath the stone walls
• Tastings of typical local products and wines from the Messina area
• The Pensiero d'Amore (Thought of Love) dessert, the event's signature sweet, served in participating restaurants
• The midnight kiss, a closing moment shared by all participating villages

A national event, a local identity

The Romantic Night was created to celebrate the identity and atmosphere of Italy's small historic centers: a night where every village honors love and hospitality with a common language, yet expressed through its own unique traditions. In Castroreale, this translates into a blend of Aragonese charm, Sicilian local flavors, and the extraordinary panoramic setting overlooking the Peloritani mountains and the sea. It is the ideal occasion to discover one of the most beautiful villages in the province of Messina during one of its most enchanting evenings.