Paesi dell'Etna
We propose an itinerary dedicated to the wonders of Eastern Sicily. Specifically, we address the geographical territory of Etna, in which some characteristic villages of the province of Catania are located. Over the centuries, the entire area surrounding Mount Etna has undergone multiple changes from a geological and physical point of view, largely due to the activity of one of the largest active volcanoes in Europe and the world. All the municipalities that we will visit in this itinerary have been more or less involved, and sometimes deeply marked, by the eruptions of magma and lava. These eruptions have left an indelible mark, not only on the geographical structure of the territory, but also on the culture and history of the inhabitants who inhabit these places. Following a perimeter route along the slopes of Etna, we will discover places that are incredibly faithful to the Sicilian tradition. We will start from the pretty town of Paternò, making a circumnavigation of the Park up to Nicolosi, famous for its rich architectural heritage of religious origin and above all for the ski resort of Rifugio Sapienza, one of the most popular in the region. We will pass through places of great historical, naturalistic and cultural importance, including Biancavilla, Adrano, Maletto and Bronte, the latter known throughout the world for the cultivation of PDO branded pistachios. We will then continue towards Zafferana Etnea, where the Ottobrata Zafferanese takes place annually, passing through Francavilla di Sicilia, Castiglione di Sicilia and of course Linguaglossa, from which it is possible to reach another place well known to mountain and winter sports lovers: Piano Provenzana. Paternò The Norman Castle: it was built at the behest of Roger I on the model of the English castles and the French dungeons fortified in the same period. It has an austere but absolutely fascinating character and inside it contains a graceful frescoed chapel, a gallery and an armory. But the flagship is the upper terrace which allows the view of an incredibly suggestive panorama.Gates of the City: Porta del Borgo, Porta Lentini and Porta della Ballottola date back to the Norman period, all that remains of the ancient protective walls.Torre dei Falconieri: also entirely built using lava stone. Precisely in this tower, according to legend, the patron saint of the city was locked up before her martyrdom.Church of Santa Barbara: built during the end of the 16th century and dedicated to the patron saint of Paternò. It has interiors adorned with precious polychrome stuccos that give it absolute uniqueness.Sanctuary of the Madonna della Consolazione: in neo-romantic style, it is a structure linked to the cult of the Madonna della Consolazione. Among the most beautiful churches in the municipality, it is characterized by a reddish colour, due to the type of stone used for its construction. Inside, its walls are decorated with frescoes by Archimede Cirinnà.Church of Maria Santissima Annunziata: Once a monastery of Benedictine nuns, today it continues to maintain its value also thanks to the presence of a precious painting signed by Anguissola located in the main atrium.Palazzo di Città: ancient residence of the bourgeois Alessi family, after years of abandonment it was restored to become the town hall. Santa Maria di Licodia and Biancavilla The Mother Church: the most important religious building, it preserves inside paintings such as “San Leone Taumaturgo defeating the magician Eliodoro” by Desiderato and “The Holy Family” by Rapisardi.The Bell Tower: dates back to 1143 and in the past it was a strategic light signaling point between the castles of Paternò and Adrano.The Torre di Calafato: a mysterious stepped pyramid, whose original purpose has not yet been identified.Biancavilla instead is a town of about 23 thousand inhabitants whose genesis starts from the development of a Greek-Albanian colony. It offers a large number of opportunities to visitors: from religious structures such as the Basilica of Santa Maria dell’Elemosina and the Church of the Annunziata, to civil ones including Villa delle Favare and the palaces belonging to bourgeois families.Other interesting places are the seventeenth-century La Fenice theater, adjacent to the matrix of the city, the botanical garden and the water mills, active and functioning until the first half of the 1800s. Adrano It is one of the most remote cities of the Etna area, whose roots even date back to the Neolithic. The actual foundation took place at the hands of Dionysius I of Syracuse, known as “the Elder”, but with the passing of the ages, Adrano has undergone a myriad of dominations and contaminations by many different civilizations. For this reason, the town perfectly represents the cultural heterogeneity that has always distinguished Sicily.Thanks to the Normans, it managed to increase its value. The Castle with a quadrilateral base was built which together with the aforementioned Castle of Paternò constituted a decisive defensive system for the protection of the Simeto Valley.In addition to the castle, it is worth visiting the nearby Ponte dei Saraceni, which connected the cities of Troina and Catania, the Monastery of Santa Lucia, the Bellini Theater and Palazzo Ciancio. Bronte This agricultural center is known for the cultivation of pistachios. If you travel during the first months of October you could take part in the annual Sagra, during which exceptional food and wine activities are organised. During the event, the city streets take a leap into the past and the citizens offer the arts and crafts of peasant civilization, offering visitors local food products made with pistachios.From a strictly tourist point of view, the most significant monument is the Nelson Castle, donated by King Ferdinand I to Napoleon Bonaparte’s sworn enemy: Commander Nelson, the latter awarded the title of Grand Duke of Bronte.Another important place is the Sanctuary of the Annunziata, which houses the marble group of the Annunciation, which according to popular beliefs protects the city from the fury of the Etna volcano. Take advantage of the visit to Bronte to buy the so-called “Green Gold”, the pistachio, before leaving for Maletto. Maletto It is the highest municipality of Etna (960