Holiday apartment in Pasteria-Lapide: Castle, Churches and Alcantara

Pasteria-Lapide offers several clearly distinct focal points for planning your trip: the Arab-Norman Castello di Calatabiano, historic churches, the area around the Alcantara and the step-free accessible Piazza Sacerdote Carmelo Dominici. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Pasteria-Lapide, you can give different weight to culture, religious traditions and physical activity depending on what you would like to experience on holiday.

Culture between the Castle and Churches

The Castello di Calatabiano is located at Via Alcantara 142 in Pasteria. The Arab-Norman castle stands on a 220-metre-high hill overlooking the mouth of the Alcantara. This brings distinctive architecture and expansive views across the river area together in one place.

The Chiesa della Madonna dell’Imperio was built in 1092. The old church is located near the bridge over the Alcantara in the Pasteria area. At Via Pasteria No. 40 in Calatabiano, it has been protected by D.D.G. No. 332 of 10 February 2020 as particularly significant historical, artistic and architectural cultural heritage. After decades of closure, the Chiesa was reopened for worship in 2004.

The parish church of San Giuseppe also reflects several historical layers. It was built in the 19th century on land donated by the Vasta family. After suffering severe damage and being demolished as a result of a wartime event in August 1943, it was rebuilt in the post-war period. Saint Joseph is the patron saint of the town and the parish church.

Paths, Landscape and Local Life

The easy Sentiero Castello di Calatabiano hiking trail begins in Calatabiano and ends at the Castello di Calatabiano. This route is important for planning your day because the starting point and destination are not in the same place. The parish district of San Giuseppe in Pasteria lies between the Ionian Sea, the Alcantara and Fiumefreddo rivers, and the railway line.

Religious festivals add a recurring local connection to the historic buildings. An annual festival in honour of Saint Joseph takes place in Pasteria. The annual festival of the Chiesa della Madonna dell’Imperio takes place on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. Processions and fireworks were scheduled as the highlight of the San Giuseppe festival for Sunday, 28 July.

A sporting aspect was showcased by the seventh edition of the Stra Pasteria – Trofeo San Giuseppe. The road race was open to all FIDAL categories in Pasteria. It used a 1,400-metre circuit with a shared start and finish at Piazza Sacerdote Dominici.

Which Holiday Apartment Suits Your Holiday Focus

These local features allow different holiday focuses to be identified when choosing a holiday apartment in Pasteria-Lapide. Churches, the castle and festival traditions provide a cultural and faith-oriented setting. If you would like to divide your days between historic sightseeing, religious festivals and physical activity, you can include these places in your personal itinerary.

More places for planning your trip: Biancavilla, Mascali, Vaccarizzo-Delfino, Santa Venerina, Santa Venera-portosalvo, Valverde, Aci Sant'antonio, Misterbianco.

To the main travel overview: Catania.