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Mategriffon today

Italy · Partial ruin

Mategriffon

Castello Matagrifone

Mategriffon (Matagrifone, Rocca Guelfonia) was a medieval hilltop castle in Messina, Sicily, sited on a rocky promontory overlooking the harbour and Strait of Messina. It comprised a square central keep with surrounding curtain walls and polygonal towers; much of the complex was destroyed in the 1908 earthquake, leaving only an octagonal tower and fragments of bastions and an entrance.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1061

Its prime

1535

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1535

What Mategriffon looked like in its prime.

Perched on a rocky hill near the city centre and facing the Strait of Messina, the castle presents a compact, angular silhouette: a squat square central keep (described as a dungeon) surrounded by thick limestone curtain walls and ramparts, reinforced at intervals by polygonal stone towers including a distinctive octagonal tower. Sixteenth-century bastion works project from the walls, with a prominent 16th-century entrance; crenellated parapets and low rooflines define the skyline above the harbour.

Its story

The story of Mategriffon.

Mategriffon was first raised as a wooden fortress in 1061 by the Norman adventurer Robert Guiscard, Lord of Sicily, on a rocky hill commanding Messina's harbour and the Strait beyond. Its name, Matagrifone, "kill-Greeks", reflected the predominantly Greek ancestry of the city's population.

The castle later passed to the Angevin dynasty. In the aftermath of the Sicilian Vespers, the royal vicar Herbert of Orleans and the supporters of King Charles I of Naples took refuge here, and the castle was besieged and damaged by the Messinese mob led by Alaimo da Lentini. Under the House of Aragon it became the residence of Queen Constance, consort of Peter III, who passed the time playing chess with a prisoner held there, the Tunisian emir Margam Ibn Sebir of Djerba.

Converted into a prison in the 19th century, the castle, a square keep with ramparts reinforced by polygonal towers, was destroyed in the 1908 earthquake. Only an octagonal tower still stands, incorporated into the 20th-century Shrine of Christ the King church that now dominates Messina's skyline.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1535.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Mategriffon, including 1 interior: square keep interior / dungeon. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from Viale Principe Umberto (city approach)View from the harbour/Strait of MessinaOuter curtain wall and bastion parapetOctagonal tower (eastern face with inscription)Main 16th‑century entrance (gate)Square keep interior / dungeonRamparts walkway and crenellationsView from a tower toward the harbour

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Questions about Mategriffon

What is the history of Mategriffon?

Mategriffon was first raised in the 11th century as a wooden fortress commanding Messina’s harbour and the Strait of Messina. It was rebuilt in limestone in 1240 under Frederick II and later passed to the Angevin and Aragonese dynasties. The castle was enlarged in the late 15th century, extensively fortified in the 16th century, converted into a prison in the 19th century and almost destroyed by the 1908 earthquake.

What is inside Mategriffon?

Inside Mategriffon, the documented space is the square central keep, also described as a dungeon. The available descriptions do not identify further rooms or surviving interior furnishings. Most of the castle was destroyed in the 1908 earthquake, leaving the octagonal tower and fragments of the former fortress.

Why was Mategriffon built, and what was it used for?

Mategriffon was built as a fortress to command Messina’s harbour and the Strait of Messina. Its defensive role continued through successive rebuilding and the addition of ramparts, polygonal towers and 16th-century fortifications. In 1838 its use changed when it was converted into a Bourbon prison; today, the surviving tower supports the bell structure of the Shrine of Christ the King.

Where is Mategriffon?

Mategriffon is in Messina, Sicily, on a rocky hill near the historic city centre overlooking the harbour and Strait of Messina. Its former location is identified with Viale Principe Umberto. The surviving octagonal tower is incorporated into the 20th-century Shrine of Christ the King church, which is a visible landmark on Messina’s skyline.

When was Mategriffon built?

Mategriffon was first built in 1061, placing its origins in the 11th century. It began as a wooden fortress raised by Robert Guiscard, Lord of Sicily. The castle was later rebuilt in limestone in 1240, enlarged in the late 15th century and extensively fortified during the 16th century.

Was Mategriffon ever attacked or besieged?

Mategriffon was besieged and damaged during the aftermath of the Sicilian Vespers, when a Messinese mob led by Alaimo da Lentini attacked supporters of Charles I of Naples sheltering inside. The occupants were later given safe conduct to leave, and the castle was repaired. It also came under attack during the 1848 anti-Bourbon insurrection.

What did Mategriffon look like in its prime?

At its height, Mategriffon had a compact, angular silhouette centred on a squat square keep surrounded by thick limestone curtain walls and ramparts. Polygonal stone towers reinforced the walls, including a distinctive octagonal tower. Sixteenth-century bastions projected from the defences, while crenellated parapets, low rooflines and a prominent entrance shaped its appearance above the harbour.

Is Mategriffon still standing, or is it a ruin?

Mategriffon is a partial ruin, with only an octagonal tower still standing from the castle itself. Fragments of bastion walls, nearby defensive structures and a 16th-century entrance also survive. The remaining tower is incorporated into the Shrine of Christ the King church, built on the ruins in 1935 after the castle was almost completely destroyed in the 1908 earthquake.

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