Discover Naso: Churches, Museums and Festivals

Naso combines a medieval village centre in the Nebrodi with churches, museums, craft traditions and sweeping panoramas. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Naso, you will find inspiration here for very different kinds of holiday days: historical discoveries, experiences in nature, religious traditions and culinary events can be combined to create a varied stay.

Culture among Churches, Museums and Crafts

The historic centre is a medieval village in the Nebrodi. A stroll through the old alleyways offers views of the Aeolian Islands, the Nebrodi side and Mount Etna. One of the defining religious buildings is the Chiesa Madre SS Apostoli Filippo e Giacomo. It originated in the Middle Ages and was extended and remodelled from the 17th century until the first half of the 20th century. Its basilica layout has three naves separated by a monumental Doric colonnade made of local stone.

Another focal point is the Museo Arte Sacra in the Catacombe di San Cono. The catacombs are structurally connected to the Tempio di San Cono above them; the museum displays liturgical furnishings from Naso’s old churches. The exhibition route, covering approximately 260 m², comprises four sections. These include woodwork and maiolica objects associated with the maiolica craftsmen who worked in Naso from the 15th to the 17th century.

The Pinacoteca Tano Santoro presents a permanent exhibition of paintings dedicated to the contemporary artist Tano Santoro. Its rooms on the ground floor are equipped with facilities for people with disabilities. At Naso’s main entrance, the Teatro Vittorio Alfieri also stands on part of the old castle walls. The theatre is dedicated to the writer Vittorio Alfieri. Book lovers will find a valuable collection of old books in the Biblioteca Comunale Carlo Incudine, with texts dating from the late 16th century to the end of the 19th century.

The Museo Arte e Mestieri del Territorio is dedicated in four sections to woodworking, grape harvesting, traditional crafts and tailoring. For schools, guided tours of the exhibition are supplemented by educational activities in the form of workshops. Leatherworking, which is particularly well represented, is also part of the local craft tradition.

Trails, Religious Traditions and Local Festivals

There are also various options to incorporate into your daily itinerary. The cloister of the monastery of the Frati Minori Osservanti offers a panorama that also includes the Aeolian Islands. The “Le 4 strade” trekking route is an 8 km circular nature trail that begins and ends in Bazia. The Tempio di San Cono Abate and the Fontana U Criatu embody Naso’s spiritual character. The temple stands on the site of the former Church of San Michele Arcangelo, where, according to legend, Naso’s patron saint spent the final years of his life in a grotto. The Fontana U Criatu is located near the hermitage of San Cono Navacita in the Rocca D’Almo district of Naso.

The annual Festa di San Cono combines faith, tradition, culture, music and entertainment and is aimed at worshippers and tourists. During the festival, the relics and the simulacrum of San Cono are ceremoniously transferred from the temple to the Chiesa Madre. Another key event is the Iapri Fest. The Iapri Fest took place for the fourth time from 18 July to 20 July 2025, after earlier editions had already been held. The edition lasted three days and offered music, art and creativity. The Iapri Food area includes tastings, show cookings and flavour workshops focusing on typical Sicilian products and local specialities.

Getting There and Choosing Your Holiday Apartment in Naso

From Messina, the road journey follows the ME-PA motorway and the Brolo exit. It then continues along the SS 113 towards Palermo until a turn-off, 6 km away, onto the SS 116 towards Capo d’Orlando and Randazzo. By train, the route is via the Palermo–Messina line and Capo d’Orlando–Naso station.

Which holiday apartment in Naso is right for your trip therefore depends above all on your preferred focus: the centre brings together churches, museums, the theatre and the library, while the walk, panorama and trekking route offer different points of emphasis. Anyone wishing to experience religious traditions or regional specialities can include the temple, festival and Iapri Food in their personal itinerary.

More Destinations for Planning Your Trip

Scaletta Marina, Rometta, Tripi, Mirto, Locadi, Brolo, Lingua and Piraino

For the higher-level travel overview: Messina.