Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto


Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto is a town and municipality in the Metropolitan City of Messina in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy, west of Messina. As of 2025, with a population of 39,778, it is the [List of municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Messina|2nd-largest Comune|municipality in the metropolitan city].
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History

Ancient history

In the area corresponding to the current municipal area, the following ancient settlements were identified:
  • Settlement and necropolis of the Bronze Age and Iron Age, in Maloto locality.
  • Settlement and necropolis, from around the 10th century BC, in Pizzo Lando.
  • Settlement and necropolis of ancient Greek or Hellenistic times, assigned to 8th century BC, in Oliveto locality.
  • Settlement and necropolis of Sicani/Greek origins, dating from around the 6th and 5th centuries BC, in Sant'Onofrio locality.
In 265 BC, the Battle of Longano, between the army of Hiero II of Syracuse and the Mamertines under the command of the leader Cione, took place in this area. The exact assignment of the place in the absence of identifiable cause remains earthquakes, floods, or diversion of water courses. There are several hypotheses that place the event along the courses of the rivers bordering the "Mela" or "Patrì", and other in the vicinity of the mythical city "Longane" or "Abacena", however settlements related to the same conflict.

Origins and etymology

Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto lies in the plain that slopes to the north close to the lush hills and the chain of Peloritani mountains, overlooking the Gulf of Patti in the Tyrrhenian Sea on the part near the Aeolian Islands in a portion of coast between the Milazzo peninsula to the east and to the west promontory of Tindari.
The most credible hypothesis for the derivation of its name is that it was derived during the era of rule by the Crown of Aragon. It is likely the first rulers of the town came from the County of Barcelona.
The oldest part of the town, Pozzo di Gotto, owes its name to the digging of a well for irrigation in cultivated lands located between the rivers Idria and Longano, belonging to Nicholas Goto as described in Vulgar Latin in a document dated 1463: "... Nicolao de Gotho,..., in quo Puzzo de Gotho...". In 1571 Pozzogottesi obtained from the Grand Court of the Archbishop of Messina permission to elect their chaplain stationed in San Vito no longer dependant on the Archpriest of Milazzo. The Spanish Viceroy removed Pozzo di Gotto from the under the jurisdiction of Milazzo on 22 May 1639, and ratified by royal during the reign of Philip IV of Spain, and the town assumes the title "Libera et Realis Civitas Putei de Gotho". The village in the west of the river Longano in turn under the jurisdiction of Castroreale and had already followed the example of the neighboring community, rebelling against the jurors castrensian doing in the Church to recognize its independence. Notarial deeds dating back to 1522 in Castroreale report the name of the district or hamlet of "Barsalona", a name likely to be attributed to the presence in the baptismal books of Pozzo di Gotto the name of "Graziosa Barsalona", on the other hand is supported the thesis that the name of the location has been given by Iberian sailors having recognizing the remarkable similarity of the two territories.
The autonomy of the village of Barcellona was accepted by the Sicilian Parliament, recognized by the King on 15 May 1815 and ratified in Vienna 28 February 1823, by King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. The administrative union decreed 5 January 1835, comes into force on 1 June 1836 at the behest of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies, deciding that the new municipality formed by the merger of the two ancient districts bore the full name of Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto. Are discarded by the King all the advanced options of names derived from the word "Longano", receiving the unanimous appreciation, on the other hand the initial goodwill will turn into hatred and resentment towards the monarch as a result of criminal actions undertaken throughout the province, especially in Milazzo and Messina, which earned him the nickname of "King Bomb". The city soon established covered a certain role with significant contributions to the definitive expulsion of the House of Bourbon from the province and the whole of Sicily and increasingly effective input in all the events included in the process of unification of constituting Kingdom of Italy.

Demographics

As of 2025, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto has a population of 39,778, of whom 49.0% are male and 51.0% are female. Minors make up 16.3% of the population, and seniors make up 22.9%, compared to the Italian average of 14.9% and 24.7% respectively.

Foreign population

As of 2024, the foreign-born population is 3,515, equal to 8.8% of the population. The 5 largest foreign nationalities are Albanians, Moroccans, Romanians, Swiss and Argentinians.

Traditions and folklore

The procession of Varette which takes place on Good Friday, and at the same time two processions consist of twenty-six Vare depicting the mysteries of the Passion parade through the streets of the city.
Country of birthPopulation
Albania

Main sights

The thirteenth-century village of Castroreale, home to a tower from a medieval castle built by King Frederick II of Aragon, is located nearby.
The Nello Cassata Ethnohistory Museum is based here.

Religious architecture

Cave of Saint Venera, fiefdom of the Basilians, rock temple with a square plan and octagonal dome. Armenian - Byzantine origin from the 7th – 8th century.

Churches

These are some of the most important churches in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto:

Sport

Igea Virtus is the local football team, usually playing in Serie D.

Notable people