Discover Salice: fort, views and trails

Salice can be explored through its cultural heritage and landscape. Forte dei Centri, Torre Benini, a CAI hiking route and the viewpoint at Piazza Madonna di Lourdes give your stay a number of specific themes. There is also a grotto with statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Bernadette, as well as local legends. If you are looking for a hotel in Salice, you can first consider whether historic buildings, a trail leading to the fort or panoramic views best suit your travel interests.

Forte dei Centri and history

Forte dei Centri in Salice is a 19th-century fort and is one of the so-called Forti Umbertini. It was built between 1882 and 1892. Another architectural landmark is Torre Benini, also known as “Castelluccio”: the square tower is shaped like a truncated pyramid and is part of the system of coastal watchtowers. Two distinct types of structure therefore stand side by side: the 19th-century fort and a tower distinguished by its shape and its place in a system of coastal watchtowers. If historic buildings are a factor in your choice, the fort’s construction date and the tower’s distinctive shape offer different points of interest.

The year 1134 is also part of the area’s history: Roger II then transferred the territory of Salice to the Basilian monastery of San Salvatore di Messina. Local legends tell of three figures named Stefano merging into one. This places a dated medieval event alongside a local storytelling tradition. These two perspectives extend your exploration of Salice beyond its buildings: the transfer is part of the area’s history, while the Stefano legends have their own place in local culture.

Hiking and views

A CAI hiking route leads from the Torrente Tarantonio along a trail to Forte dei Centri in Villaggio Salice, then returns along the same trail. The route is a practical distinction to consider when planning your hike: the fort is the stated destination, and the return follows the outward route. This connection between hiking and cultural heritage is best understood as an out-and-back route, not a loop. If a fixed destination matters for your outing, the route offers a clear point of reference in Salice.

Piazza Madonna di Lourdes offers panoramic views of Salice and the Tyrrhenian Sea; on clear days, the Aeolian Islands can also be seen. Above the piazza, a grotto in the rock face contains statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Bernadette. Both details are associated with the same square but offer different points of interest: the view takes in the town and sea, and on clear days the islands too, while the grotto focuses on the religious figures.

Hilly landscape and getting around

The area around Salice is hilly, with extensive pastures, agricultural land and woodland formations featuring forest species typical of the Peloritani Mountains. The mix of these areas gives the landscape several facets: pasture, agriculture and woodland all have a place. Salice also has numerous equipped rest areas that are part of tourist routes leading to viewpoints. These differ from the specifically named CAI hike to the fort: that out-and-back route leads to a particular cultural destination, whereas the rest areas and viewpoints are part of tourist routes. When planning, you can weigh up a route with a named destination against one oriented around viewpoints and rest areas.

The road connection also offers a geographic reference point. Provincial road S.P. 51 connects Salice to the south, via S.P. 51 bis, with the centre of Messina, and to the north with Orto Liuzzo. This helps distinguish the local points of interest from places farther afield: Forte dei Centri, Torre Benini, the piazza and the hilly surroundings describe different aspects of Salice, while the road provides context for connections to Messina and Orto Liuzzo. When looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether Salice itself fits your travel plans, then consider the road connections as an additional point of reference.

Discover more destinations: Torrenova, Sant'alessio Siculo, Tusa, Pistunina, Canneto, Tripi, Tortorici, Pettineo

For the full travel guide: Messina.