| Nicolosi | ||
 | ||
| Salutation | Gate of Etna | |
|---|---|---|
| State | Italy | |
| Region | Sicily | |
| Territory | Catanese | |
| Altitude | 698 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 42.65 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 7.492 (2018) | |
| Name inhabitants | nicolositis | |
| Prefix tel | 39 095 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 95030 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | Sant'Antonio di Padova, co-patron saint Sant'Antonio Abate | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Nicolosi is a city of Sicily.
To know
Geographical notes
The town rises on the slopes ofEtna, south of the Volcano and is 13 km from Catania. To the north-east of the city are the 1 Red Mountains (950 m asl), two pyroclastic cones formed during the eruption of Etna in 1669.
When to go
The altitude influences the climate of the town. Summer is much more temperate and cool than the Ionian coast of Catania, winter is more rigid and it snows on average a couple of times a year.
How to orient yourself
Nicolosi: full screen map.How to get
By plane
- 2 Catania airport (Catania Fontanarossa Airport "Vincenzo Bellini". IATA: CTA), Via Fontanarossa, 20, Fontanarossa, ☎ 39 0957239111. Airport for national and international flights.
How to get around
What see
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- 1 Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena, Via del Convento, 45, ☎ 39 095 821111. It is an ancient monastery of the twelfth century, today the seat of the Etna Park.
- 2 Mother Church of the Holy Spirit, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 4. The main church of Nicolosi built on a project by Vaccarini in the first half of the eighteenth century.
- 3 Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Church of the Madonna delle Grazie) (Via Etnea).
- 4 Carmel Church (Church of the Madonna del Carmelo), Piazza del Carmine. It is a church located in the ancient part of the town and rises at the top of a beautiful staircase. Built in 1724, it was dedicated to the Madonna del Carmelo
- 5 Church of S. Giuseppe, Via Roma. According to some sources, the architect could be Vaccarini or one of his pupils who worked in Catania after the eruption of 1669 and the earthquake of 1693. It is certain, however, that the local workers wanted in the Church to re-propose poverty, simplicity and brightness, using materials not very valuable and in fact only later was the internal structure changed thanks to donations from devotees. Inside you can admire several paintings dating back to the late 1700s and some sacred furnishings from the Monastery of S. Nicola.
- 6 Anime del Purgatorio church, Via Fratelli Gemmellaro.
- 7 Church of San Francesco di Paola, Via Guglielmo Marconi.
- 8 Museum of peasant civilization, Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 58, ☎ 39 095 910980. Museum dedicated to the arts, uses and customs of the inhabitants belonging to the local peasant civilization. It is possible to admire the environments in which peasant activities took place. The museum offers evidence of work and life in the Sicilian countryside between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- 9 The Three Altarelli, Via Giacomo Leopardi. Monument with three arches where the sacred images of the three protectors of Nicolosi are painted.
- Goethe Monument.
- 10 Volcanological Museum of Etna, Via Cesare Battisti, 28, ☎ 39 348 975 5287.
- 11 Anselmi Park.
- 12 Cave of the Doves, Via Grotte delle Colombe. Volcanic cave that can only be visited by experts.
- 13 Benedictine monastery "Blessed Giuseppe Benedetto Dusmet", ☎ 39 095 910609.
Events and parties
- Novena in preparation for the feast of St. Anthony the Abbot.
January 8-16. - Feast of S. Antonio Abate. January 16-17.
- Feast of St. Anthony of Padua. February 19.
- Feast of St. Joseph. March 18-19. Procession of the fercolo with the simulacrum of the saint through the streets of the town, "Auction in the square" of local goods and first fruits collected during the procession.
- Easter. Palm Sunday (mass in the square), "A troccula" played by the boys of the two parishes (an instrument that is played through the streets of the town, instead of ringing the bells); procession of the Dead Christ and the Addolorata through the streets of the historic center and ascent to Calvary (Good Friday); "A waterfall from tila" in the mother church (night of Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil).
- Corpus Christi. Procession through the streets of the town, with stops in the typical "Atareddi" (Altarini) set up in the neighborhoods.
- Feast of St. Anthony of Padua. 12-13 June. Unveiling of the simulacrum of the Saint, Eucharistic celebrations, blessing of Bread and votive robes in the mother church.
- Feast of Maria SS. of Graces. May 31.
- Feast of S. Antonio Abate. First Sunday of July. Procession of the Relics and the Simulacrum of the Saint, blessing of the animals, "Corsa alla Sciara" and blessing of the vehicles.
- Feast of the Madonna del Carmelo, Church of the Madonna del Carmelo. July 15-16. Exhibition of the Simulacrum, SS. Masses and blessing of the "Abitini or Scapolari", in the evening Solemn Mass in the front churchyard with procession of the Simulacrum carried on the shoulder; Greasy tree (on Christmas Eve).
- Stars and Lapilli. July and August. Summer events organized by the Municipality
- Feast of St. Anthony of Padua. Second Sunday of August.
- Feast of the Patronage of the Madonna delle Grazie. First Sunday of September.
- Bread festival. September.
- Celebrations in honor of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Piazza Carmine. 22-23 September.
- Feast of Card. Dusmet, mother church. September 25.
- All Saints' Day. November 1st. Procession of the Confraternities to the cemetery with final Holy Mass.
- Immaculate, mother church. December 8.
- Christmas Novena, mother church.
6.00. from 16 to 24 December. - Christmas. December. Events organized by the Municipality
- Christmas night around the "Ceppo". December 24th.
January 8-16.
6.00. What to do
Nicolosi is an almost obligatory stop for all tourists who want to reach and visit Etna. There are ski slopes for winter sports, a panoramic cableway up to an altitude of 2500 m and it is possible to reach the mouth of the volcanic crater, accompanied by authorized guides. With a gondola lift, 1 chair lift, 3 ski lifts up to an altitude of 2,505 meters above sea level. Nicolosi boasts the southernmost ski resort in Italy.
From Nicolosi, several nearby trails can be used for hiking. For details see the article Paths of Etna.
- 1 Nicolosi Adventure Park (Monti Rossi Adventure Park), Via Goethe, ☎ 39 388 755 3812. Climbing adventure park.
- 2 Pineta Nicolosi. Take a walk inside the pine forest with the possibility of climbing the Monti Rossi.
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Nicolosi stands out in the Etnea area for a typical bread made with rye semolina: the black bread of Immanu that during famines, it still managed to feed the population. In the Second World War, rye was not subject to rationing so it spread widely in the Etnean areas.
The traditional Nicolosita gastronomy draws its origins from the peasant culture and is based on "poor", simple and genuine dishes based on local agriculture. Among the first courses, therefore, the pasta with legumes (a pasta cch'i cicira, pasta with chickpeas, for the feast of San Giuseppe), with wild fennel, broccoli (the sunken vrocculi), cauliflower, wild asparagus.
Among the latter we mention the "aggrassato" veal (cooked slowly with onion and wine), 'u fassumauru (meat rollé), roasted lamb and sweet and sour wild rabbits. Obviously, dishes based on mushrooms found in the woods surrounding the town are prepared.
Typical almond and pistachio desserts, nougat and soft nougat, the copper (a biscuit with a soft cocoa heart, covered with a dark chocolate glaze, delicately spiced) and the skiers (sweet "cca liffia": a chocolate glaze), the substantial biscuit preferred by hikers departing or returning from Etna, whose invention is, however, boasted by the Zafferans. The raviole fried stuffed with ricotta, cassatele, prickly pear mustards, i mustazzoli stuffed. Always typical of the Etna towns ù ciciliu or "cuddura" (probably from the ancient Greek κολλύρα (kollura) what does it mean crown and originally emphasized the shape of the toasted bread), linked to the Easter feast. In ancient times it was given to children as a sign of the risen Christ.
Moderate prices
- 1 Dolce Vita Cafe, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, 31, ☎ 39 095 910484.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- 1 Campsite Etna, Via Goethe. In a pine forest a few kilometers from Nicolosi. It has a swimming pool and is well shaded.
Average prices
- 2 B&B L'Angolo dei Sogni, to Giuseppe De Felice n. 14 / A, ☎ 39 095 914502, 39 348 7917148, 39 347 7002434, @[email protected].
- 3 B&B La Rena Rossa, Via Luigi Capuana 6 A, ☎ 39 3338628703. B&B surrounded by a large garden.
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
Useful information
- 3 Etna Park Authority, Via del Convento, 45, ☎ 39 095 821111.
