The Castello Aragonese stands at the southern end of the old town, close to the port, and is one of the few structures in Reggio that predates the 1908 earthquake. Built on the site of earlier fortifications and given its current form by the Aragonese rulers of southern Italy in the fifteenth century, it served for centuries as both a fortress and a prison. The Strait of Messina visible from its towers has been one of the most strategically important waterways in the Mediterranean since antiquity.
The castle now houses a museum focused on local history and archaeology, with exhibits covering Reggio from the Aragonese period through the earthquake and reconstruction. The outer walls and towers are open to walk, and the views across the strait to Sicily — just three kilometres away at the narrowest point — are as good as any in southern Italy.