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Matagrifone was almost completely destroyed in the catastrophic earthquake which struck
Messina on 28 December 1908. Only an octagonal tower remains of the castle today, known locally as "Macalda's Tower", along with remnants of the bastion's walls and a 16th century entrance. It is surmounted by a
158:
made a triumphal visit to
Messina where he stopped at Matagrifone Castle as part of his inspection of the city's fortresses. Over the following centuries it was a focal point of a number of rebellions against the ruling Spanish by the populace of Messina. Having suffered damage in the 1783
111:
mob led by Alaimo da
Lentini. However they were given safe conduct to leave the castle which was subsequently repaired. After the Angevins were driven out of Sicily, Matagrifone came under control of the new ruling dynasty, the House of Aragon. It became the residence of
59:
it comprised a square dungeon with ramparts and reinforced by polygonal towers. Only an octagonal tower remains standing and is incorporated into the 20th century Shrine of Christ the King church, a visible
Messina landmark which dominates its skyline.
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130 quintal bell made in 1935 from the melted bronze of enemy cannons. That same year the Shrine of Christ the King church and war memorial was built upon the castle ruins into which the tower is incorporated.
127:, wife of Alaimo da Lentini, and her children were imprisoned in Matagrifone Castle by the orders of King Peter. It was there she became acquainted with another prisoner, the Tunisian emir Margam Ibn Sebir of
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Voula Konti, BYZANTINA SYMMEIKTA, ΣΥΜΜΕΙΚΤΑ 6, ΣΥΜΒΟΛΗ ΣΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΗ ΓΕΩΓΡΑΦΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΡΚΑΔΙΑΣ (395-1209) (Contribution to the
Historical Geography of Arcadia 395-1209), page 95
51:, located in what is today Viale Principe Umberto. Its strategic position upon a rocky hill close to the historic city centre gave a commanding view of the harbour and
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167:. The prison was described as having been "la prigione più dura e inospitale della città" (the toughest and most inhospitable prison in the city").
330:"Luogo segreti (e non) nel cuore della città: sui passi delle carcere borboniche Messinesi.www.universome.eu. 13 October 2020. Retrieved on 22-6-22
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The name
Matagrifone signifies "Greek killers" or "kill-Greeks" due to the population of Messina having been predominantly of Greek ancestry.
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131:, with whom she passed the time playing chess. According to historian Santi Correnti she was the first Sicilian woman to play the game.
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321:"Carlo V al castello di Matagrifone - Rievocazione storica". Tempo Stretto. 21 Ottobre 2021.www. tempostretto.it.Retrieved on 22-6-22
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The 16th century saw extensive fortifications added to the castle. In
October 1535 following his conquest of Tunisia, Emperor
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The Castle - Federico itinerari dello stupore. www.federicoitineraridellostupore.it. Retrieved on 21-6-22
88:. He ordered its partial demolition before he departed in 1191 for the conquest of Cyprus. In 1240 King
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Surviving octagonal tower incorporated into the Shrine of Christ the King in Viale
Principe Umberto
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Inscription of
Ferdinand II of Aragon dating from 1496 on the eastern side of the surviving tower
312:"La Sicilia dei seicento, società e cultura". Correnti, Santi. Milan. Mursia (1976). pp.216-217
84:, king of England during his sojourn in Messina as part of his journey to the Holy Land in the
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Matagrifone was initially constructed as a wooden fortress in 1061 by the Norman adventurer
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whose inscription was written in Latin in 1496 on the eastern side of the extant tower.
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ordered the rebuilding of the castle in limestone. Documents of the period refer to a
55:. In the 19th century it was converted into a prison. Prior to its destruction in the
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took refuge in the castle which was besieged and damaged by the angry
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Two accounts of the conquest of Cyprus by
Richard I (1191)
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In the late 15th century the castle was enlarged by King
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Buildings and structures demolished in the 12th century
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p.236, Continuum International Publishing Group, 2001
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prison which came under attack a decade later in the
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16th century entrance, located in Via delle Carceri
202:in the Peloponnese, which formed the seat of the
892:Natural Reserve The Mountains of Ferns and Leeks
248:(in Italian). Comune di Messina. Archived from
242:"Il Castello di Matagrifone - Rocca Guelfonia"
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80:, Lord of Sicily. It was upgraded in 1190 by
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298:unces/sources/cyprus.htm Archived
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528:Messina astronomical clock
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43:was a medieval castle in
227:Unknown crusader castles
99:In the aftermath of the
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492:Siege of Messina (1848)
452:1908 Messina earthquake
388:38.196194°N 15.551972°E
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208:Principality of Achaea
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350:December 15,
348:. Retrieved
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256:December 10,
254:. Retrieved
250:the original
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391: /
379:15°33′7.1″E
345:Google Maps
206:within the
33:Matagrifone
29:Mategriffon
1002:Categories
739:Mario Aspa
214:References
150:Modern era
867:Argimusco
156:Charles V
118:Peter III
109:Messinese
82:Richard I
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758:Religion
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447:Timeline
72:Medieval
987:Commons
433:Messina
161:Bourbon
67:History
45:Messina
779:Sports
594:Actors
129:Djerba
49:Sicily
749:Gens
352:2017
258:2017
39:or
35:or
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