Caronia
Caronia, a vast wooded area with 8 Km. of beach front and situated along the state route 113 between Messina and Palermo, is one of the uncontaminated pearls of the wonderful Island of Sicily.
Caronia neighbors with the Communes of Capizzi, S. Stefano di Camastra, Acquedolci, S. Fratello and Cesaro’
The town was carefully laid on the top of two low hills at 300 meters above sea level.
The small villages of Caronia Marina, Canneto (become famous for incendiary phenomena of which the whole world is concerned) and Torre Del Lauro are also part of Caronia’s territory.
Traveling toward the mountains a large variety of cultivations is noted. The citrus orchards and the silvery olives of the knoll give away to the hard wood trees of corks, beech, oak and mountain yews at higher elevations.
The Town’s economic resources are prevalently tied to agriculture; wood exploitation and cattle breeding in wild open pastures are two of the largest resources. Even though Caronia is also a sea town, the few local fishermen are not able to satisfy the population requirements.
The Caronia’s Patron is San Biagio and is celebrated on February 3 and the second Sunday in August.
The historical Diodoro lived in the I century b.c. reports that the current Caronia was founded by Ducezio in 448 b.c. with the name "Kalè Aktè" that means "beautiful coast". Texts report that Calacte was a beautiful colony, rich and elegant, adorned with villas and temples, and minted one's coins.
The name Calacte appear in varius documents of ancient history. The Greek historical Silene who followed Hannibal in the "Second Punica War" was Calacte origin. Also in Roman age There was Calacte and it was mentioned by Cicerone in the "Verrine". At last it was mentioned by Plinio the Old in his "Naturalis Historia". Important is the testimony still evident of the Roman rule.The bridge in three arcades on Caronia river called "Aureliano". Unfortunatily since this period and for all the centuries of the Byzantin and Arab domination aren't news of the end of Calacte neither on the foundation of Caronia. Analyzing some maps that show the Sicily around year 1000 there is in one map the name of Calacte and in another one the name of Caronia. To come to conclusione that Caronia was established under Arab rule began around 827 when were destroyed the greatest towns of the northem coast. This is confirmed also by Diodoro that describe the birth of Caronia consequence at Calacta destruction
The first news of Caronia have in Norman time by Edrisi an Arab geographer that mentioned in his "Libro di Ruggero" with the name Qaruniah and also a great Castle that still today stands at the top of one of the two hills.
Subsequently Caronia was a feud under various nobles. To mention the Count Ventimiglia, the Count of Collesano and Centelles. Later Luciano Ventimiglia, to Cardona and at last to Pignatelli. Even if generically we have notice of Caronia reading "the Riveli".These narrate us who were our ancestors, what they had, with whom neighbouring their houses and their farms, the value that had the coin in that time (onze, tarì, grana, denari). They narrate us if had debts or credits and which foodstuffs they preserved in their houses. We had then a sight very significant of the building development, agricultural, economic and social of the town from 1593 to 1816. Besides these documents, to know the story of Caronia, there are "The Conti Civici", that give us information about production, imports and exports and with which towns it trade.
At the beginning of '900 a lot of territory belong to Pignatelli and last until immediate postwar period when the fight peasant split the landed estate.Nearly 3000 hectars of land were assigned to peasants while the castle and the grounds of the castle were sold in the 1939 to the Castro's family from Palermo, still today Castel's owner.
Today Caronia counts around 3.500 habitants and even if living a present enough hard (there are still many unemployed) look with hope at the future.
A future that would based on the development of the the land from tourist point of view. To do this it is resolving quite a lot problems as above all that water, which creates puntually many uneasiness in the summer period when come back many imigration from many parts of the world .
To mention in Caronia Marina a massive construction of apartments in response to growing demands of citizens who want to spend the summer in this quiet village.
Caronia gives the name to the widest wood of Sicily and togheter to others comuni (17 of the Messina's province, 3 in Catania and 1 of Enna) make part of the Nebrodi's Park.
The road system of Caronia is very articulated. To arrive to the inhabited center of Caronia, left the state road 113, have to face 4 Km. of bend and winding road. In the country to mouve in auto is not easy, is better to leave the auto in the parking in the entrance of the country and visit the center on foot.
Just at the entrance of the village was renovated the square "Caronesi in the World" adorned with a monument to the fallen of all wars and palm trees.
Today however with the creation of some unique senses in the more critical points it become simpler to venture in the roads and byroad of the urban center
Caronia arouses a strong call for the lovers of the sea. The waters of this sea are
clear. Many are the beaches (all free) that can be destination of the tourist. The beaches more frequented in Caronia Marina are The Chiappe, an edge of stony coast with the water that decomes after few meters more and more deep; from the sea emerge some rocks that make this site very tipical. Really above the sea is situated a kiosk that is refreshment for many swimmers. In the night becomes the meeting-place (The Oasi) for many young people. Another beach very frequented is Piana di Caronia. Dipped in the gardens of lemons this natural beach changes aspect continually accoding to the waves. From beach of stones it becomes as for magic a beach of sand for the beloved of the so many little boys and not only.
Another beloved beach is that is that of Torre del Lauro (a small village of Caronia). Here can be chosen or the beach with the stones or the one with the sand. The sea in this small village for the beauty of its backdrops and for the variety of fishes is destination of many sub
In the warm evenings summer the waterfront of Caronia becomes livelies of people that between the other things can taste the good homemade ice cream and delicious crushed-ice drinks that are sold in several cafes.
The creation of this page wants to be a testimony of affection that Nino Di Bianca has till toward Caronia and Caronesi.
It's dutyful to mention some books from which have been drawn some information on Caronia.
Caronia l'ambiente, la storia, l'uomo of Maria Gerbino e Gino Calcavecchia
Ducezio Calacta Caronia XXV secoli di storia of Pietro Fiore