Town in the province of Messina, set on the homonymous promontori between the gulf of Milazzo and the gulf of Patti, the ancient Mulai (the Roman Mylae) was founded by the Greeks of Zancle (Messina) in 716 BC, on the site of an ancient Neolithic settlement. It passed under the control of Agathocles (315 BC) and later Hieron II (270 BC), both tyrants of Syracuse. In the 3rd c. BC the city was the scene of the war between Romans and Carthaginians. It was then occupied by the Byzantines (XV entury) and subsequently underwent domination in turn by the Arabs, Normans, Swabians, Angevins and the Aragonese.
From the archaeological point of view we suggest to visit the Bronze Age necropolis, urnfields (X-VIII century b.C.) and another necropolis containing the graves of skeletons and pottery items (XIV century b.C.).
Once gone through the Spanish boundary wall and entered the walled city, it is possible to admire the castle, a powerful defensive construction finished in the XIII century under Federico II, the XV century Old Cathedral and the Palazzo dei Giurati, formerly the seat of the Senate and the Town Hall.
The Sanctuary of San Francesco di Paola is of considerable interest. It is reached by a sumptuous XVIII century twin stairway. Built in the XVIII century, and incorporating the stuctures of a XV century oratory, it boasts a fine XVII century portal; it also contains a number of excellent paintings, including a Madonna delle Grazie from the Gagini workshop.
We also suggest to visit the new Cathedral, built in the XX century with fine altarpieces by XV century artists from Messina, the Church of Madonna del Rosario (XVI century), the rocky Sanctuary of Sant'Antonio from Padua, where the Saint took refuge in 1221, the XV Church of San Giacomo, with an altar from the old Cathedral and paintings of the XVII and XVIII century, the Town Hall, built on a wing of the convent of Madonna del Carmine, the Church of Immacolata (XVII century) and the Polyphemus' grotto.