Capo D'Orlando: Beaches, Culture and Views

The destination offers a range of points of interest, from the beach beside the built-up town centre to museums, historic sites and a nature park.

Beach and marina

A freely accessible beach lies along Lungomare Andrea Doria, right beside the built-up town centre of Capo d'Orlando. The marina basin at Capo d'Orlando Marina is designed to accommodate 553 berths for boats measuring 7.5 to 40 metres in length.

Sanctuary and views

The Santuario di Maria Santissima di Capo d'Orlando, also called the Santuario della Madonna, stands on the summit of the promontory that symbolises the town, within the monumental Castello complex. Castello Bastione sits on a high plateau above Contrada Malvicino in Capo d'Orlando and was probably built around the 17th century. From the summit of Castello Bastione, there are panoramic views across the Piana Orlandina and the Aeolian Islands.

Archaeology

About three kilometres northeast of Capo d'Orlando lies the Area archeologica di Bagnoli. It includes a thermal complex dating from the 3rd century AD, with eight rooms. The Antiquarium Comunale “Agatirnide” is an archaeological museum founded on 20 December 2002. Its finds date from the Bronze Age to the 1st century AD. Bagnoli focuses on a thermal complex from a particular period, while the Antiquarium encompasses finds from a much longer span of time.

Art and collections

The municipal art gallery was established in 1955 following the first “Vita e Paesaggio di Capo d'Orlando” exhibition. Its collection comprises 382 works, displayed both in the gallery rooms and in the municipal administration offices.

Villa Piccolo is a stately villa dating from the 18th century, remodelled and extended in the late 19th century. The Museo di Villa Piccolo preserves works of art, paintings, ceramics, antique weapons, prints and documents, as well as handwritten letters by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. The collection also includes Casimiro Piccolo’s “acquerelli magici” collection, portraits and photographs, and nearly 2,400 books belonging to the Piccolo family. The Pinacoteca and the Museo di Villa Piccolo therefore offer different points of interest: a municipal art collection on the one hand, and a wide-ranging collection in a historic villa on the other.

Nature park

The Parco Suburbano di Scafa is an equipped nature park covering about four hectares. The park includes an amphitheatre for summer performances, as well as picnic and barbecue areas. It offers a different focus from the archaeological sites and collections, with the nature park and the described areas for relaxing and performances taking centre stage.

Discover more destinations: Fiumedinisi, Floresta, Contrada Lacco, Torregrotta, Savoca, Rinella, Gioiosa Marea, Santa Barbara

For the overview of the wider area: Messina.