Aci Castello and Acireale

At the gates of Catania, you can find places truly suspended in time in which to walk through streets that look like postcards from another world. Aci Castello and Acireale are very particular places where tradition meets the beauty of nature that has remained largely wild and intact. These small villages overlooking the sea and the Riviera Dei Ciclopi are famous for their super popular beaches in summer, their archaeological history, and the wonderful stacks overlooking the sea. If you plan a tour of Sicily, these two places cannot in any way fail, here you can feel on your skin the pleasure of a land rich in history, tradition, beauty, and nature, and see extraordinary spectacles with your own eyes.

What to see in Aci Castello

The visit to the village of Aci Castello starts from the famous Norman Castle: also known as Castello di Aci, this monument overlooks the square that goes to the port and is located on top of a lava ridge, a promontory that was once detached from the mainland but a violent earthquake and a lava flow from Etna filled the stretch that separated the castle from the mainland. Today the castle, in addition to being a very suggestive panoramic point, is also home to the Civic Museum of Aci Castello and its exterior is instead dedicated to a very interesting botanical garden. Piazza Aci Castello is also a pretty square, the beating heart of this small village waiting to be discovered.

Aci Castello is not far from Aci Trezza and its suggestive stacks and Acireale, a truly enchanted Sicilian village.

What to see in Acireale

The cathedral of Acireale is very sumptuous and elegant, the greatest example of Sicilian baroque.

Inside it is possible to see the sundial in relief on the floor which is decorated with the signs of the zodiac. The visit to the cathedral of Acireale is a must, and once finished it is possible to walk to the sea. Being a very populous town, here you can find several impressive churches, stroll through the Villa Comunale or Belvedere and its public garden, and visit the world-famous Puppet Opera Museum, where the Sicilian puppet theater is told.

A fervent carnival takes place in Acireale, celebrations that date back as far as 1500. The grotesque allegorical floats are a sight not to be missed if you are in Sicily during the right period, in which it is also possible to taste truly exquisite local delicacies.