Sicily Guide

Pace del Mela is a small village of about 6,000 inhabitants in the Messina province, East of Sicily. Founded in 1388 by the Benedictine monks, it boasts great cultural heritage and a beautiful view of Cape Milazzo. On clear days, you can see the Aeolian Islands from this hilly town. Its highest point is Mount Serro.

The town is divided in two parts: Pace Alta and Pace Bassa (the Upper and the Lower Side). Giammoro is its biggest fraction located in the Northern side by the Tyrrhenian Sea. Here are located most of the factories that ruined the entire area.

It is said that Garibaldi stopped in Pace del Mela: the statue of the Sea Horse by Giovan Battista Vaccarini was raised in his honor. It is located in the main square of Pace Alta around the Parish “Maria SS. Della Visitazione” (1763), patron saint of the town. The big feast of “Madonna delle Grazie” starts and ends in this church every year on July 2.

Other monuments to mention are: the baronial palace of Gordone, the church of the “Madonna dell’Abbondanza” (1720), the Pugliatti Palace, and the Carpi Palace (nowadays public library).

Pace del Mela has only a two-star hotel with a few rooms (rates are below 100 Euros): Hotel La Panoramica by don Vittorio. Owner Vittorio Esposito arrived in Pace del Mela from Naples long time ago and opened the first pizzeria/restaurant of Pace del Mela. You can still eat one of the best pizzas of the Messina province there. Only a few years ago, don Vittorio also opened a hotel attached to it.

Hotel Royal is another hotel the nearby village of Cattafi, only two miles away from Pace del Mela.

Unfortunately, both hotels do not have a web site and do not accept reservations online. You have to call them directly to book your stay. These places are clean and have all the basic things you would expect from a two-star hotel. If you are looking for something else, I would suggest staying in Milazzo, a bigger town about 5 miles West with much more choice. I am sure you can find accommodation in Milazzo on every major online travel agency.

HOTELS

Hotel La Panoramica
Via Camastra’ - Pace del Mela
Tel.: (+39) 090-9346004

Hotel Royal
Via Pizzo Croce, 38 - Cattafi, San Filippo del Mela
Tel.: (+39) 090 931366
Fax: (+39) 090 932907

In spite the fact Pace del Mela is such a small village, you can eat excellent local food at its small eateries or pizzerias/restaurants. Here is a list:

BAKERIES & BARS

Panificio Calderone
Via Roma 3, Pace del Mela
Tel.: (+39) 090 933062
A small bakery close to city hall. They are family friends. Conchita has brought back to life some traditional Sicilian cookie recipes and also try her focaccia baked in the evening (very similar for the crust to what you call Sicilian pizza in the US). Focaccia comes in very different specialties with anchovies, potatoes, tuma cheese, etc.

Bar Diana
Piazza Nicolo’ Pandolfo
98042 Pace del Mela
Tel.: (+39) 090933174

Irish Coffee
Piazza Municipio, 55
98042 Pace Del Mela
Tel.: (+39) 0909339048
Nothing Irish – I assure you. They have the best lemon and “caffe’ con panna” granitas of the surroundings. The caffe’ con panna granita served with a brioche used to be my summer breakfast.

Milli Bar Di Motta Antonino
Via Regina Margherita,18
98042 Pace del Mela

RESTAURANTS/PIZZERIAS

Gallo Natale Pizzeria Focacceria
Via Roma 141, Pace del Mela
tel.: (+39) 090 933579

La Meridiana
Via Nazionale 327, Pace del Mela
Tel.: (+39) 090 9384652

Hotel La Panoramica
Via Camastra’ - Pace del Mela
Tel.: (+39) 090-9346004

Il Ritrovo dei Conti
Piazza Maria SS della Visitazione, Pace del Mela
Tel.: (+39) 090 933708

View map of Pace del Mela

Pace del Mela Official Site (Italian only)

More information about Pace del Mela (ME)

Technorati Tags [ pace del mela | messina province | sicily | pace alta | pace bassa | giammoro | maria della visitazione | giovan battista vaccarini | hotel la panoramica | hotel royal | panificio calderone | gallo pizzeria | ritrovo dei conti ]

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