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Mategriffon

Buildings and structures demolished in the 12th centuryBuildings and structures in MessinaCastles in SicilyDemolished buildings and structures in ItalyHistory of chess
Messina castello di Matagrifone Rocca Guelfonia Torre bastione guelfonia
Messina castello di Matagrifone Rocca Guelfonia Torre bastione guelfonia

Mategriffon or Matagrifone or Mathegriffon or Rocca Guelfonia was a medieval castle in Messina, Sicily, 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 Strait of Messina. In the 19th century it was converted into a prison. Prior to its destruction in the 1908 earthquake 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. The name Matagrifone signifies "Greek killers" or "kill-Greeks" due to the population of Messina having been predominantly of Greek ancestry.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Mategriffon (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Mategriffon
Viale Principe Umberto, Messina IV Circoscrizione

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Wikipedia: MategriffonContinue reading on Wikipedia

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Latitude Longitude
N 38.196194444444 ° E 15.551972222222 °
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Torre del castello Matagrifone

Viale Principe Umberto
98122 Messina, IV Circoscrizione
Sicily, Italy
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Messina castello di Matagrifone Rocca Guelfonia Torre bastione guelfonia
Messina castello di Matagrifone Rocca Guelfonia Torre bastione guelfonia
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