Nizza di Sicilia is a small coastal town in the Province of Messina, set on the Ionian Riviera within the Valle del Nisi, one of the valley’s four towns. Lying on a flat stretch of coast at about 12 metres above sea level, it looks inland toward the nearby Peloritani mountains, giving it a character balanced between maritime life and the landscape of the northeastern Sicilian hills.
The town has medieval origins and a clearly feudal background, with phases linked to the Rocca, Marchese and Alcontres families. Its old centre grew from this historic core, while its identity later became tied to the political changes of the 19th century. Originally called San Ferdinando in reference to the Bourbon king, it was renamed Nizza in 1863 after the end of Bourbon rule and Garibaldi’s expedition; “di Sicilia” was added later to distinguish it from Nizza Monferrato.
Today, Nizza di Sicilia is distinctive for this layered identity: a seaside settlement whose name preserves the memory of Bourbon Sicily, Italian unification and an older feudal past.
Patron Saint:
St. Joseph (San Giuseppe) – 19 March
Nearest Airport:
Catania (Fontanarossa) – (98 km, 01:11)
Neighboring Cities:
