Holiday apartment in Mascali – Discover the coast, Mount Etna and culture

The area of Mascali stretches from the Ionian coast to Mount Etna. The Ionian coast and Mount Etna represent two distinct landscape contexts. Within the municipality, religious traditions, several churches and a hiking route to the Ilice della Caraffara add to this.

Coast and volcanic landscape around Mascali

Today, the town centre of Mascali is centrally crossed by the Strada Statale 114 and lies between Giarre and Fiumefreddo di Sicilia. The course of the road is therefore part of the town’s specific appearance, while the landscape contexts extend from the coast to Mount Etna. Within a compact geographical setting, Mascali combines a central settlement area with the natural features of the region.

The Parco dell'Etna protects a natural environment covering around 59,000 hectares and the exceptional landscape surrounding Mount Etna, Europe's highest volcano. Another natural feature in Mascali is the monumental Leccio La Caraffara tree. It is located in Contrada Giuliana, near the Agriturismo La Caraffara on Via Trisciala in Mascali. Alongside the large-scale volcanic setting, this means that a single tree at a specifically designated location is also part of the municipality's landscape.

Churches and religious traditions in Mascali

The Chiesa di San Leonardo Abate stands on Mascali's main square next to the town hall. The old religious celebration traditions in honour of San Leonardo Abate include a novena. A procession in honour of the saint on 6 November is also one of the religious traditions in Mascali. Here, the church, main square and calendar of celebrations are closely connected with the same patron saint.

Another church building is the Chiesa di Gesù e Maria. It probably dates back to the 16th century, served as Mascali's main church for several years and housed the archpriest as well as the statue of San Leonardo. It was also the only church spared by the lava. Its history therefore includes presumed early origins, a temporary function as the main church and preservation from the lava.

The restoration and archaeological work began in 1985 and was completed in 2013; it enabled the medieval church to reopen for worship. The period from 1985 to 2013 is therefore part of the documented building history of the Nunziatella.

Hiking and different day plans

A hiking route from Mascali to the Ilice della Caraffara is considered a three-hour walk. For those interested in culture, Mascali offers several religious sites, while the route to the Ilice forms a separate nature and walking section. A visit to the town and the three-hour hike can therefore be planned in Mascali as separate elements of the day, each with its own time frame for the trip.

For further travel planning, you can also consider the following places as separate search destinations: Aci Sant'antonio, Caltagirone, Scordia, Valverde, San Gregorio Di Catania, Fiumefreddo Di Sicilia, Mineo and Montelaguardia.

For the overarching travel overview: Catania.