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Trecastagni is a small town in the province of Catania, located under Etna, populations have always lived among the ancient extinct craters that form the territory of the town since the time of the Sicilians and the Greeks. After having repeatedly suffered the devastating consequences of the volcanic activities of Etna and above all the shocking earthquake of 1693, Trecastagni has always been reborn thanks to the determination and strength of its inhabitants.
If you like to admire sacred architecture, in Trecastagni you will have the opportunity to contemplate three main churches: the Matrice, and the Santuario Dei SS. MM. Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino.
The construction of the Sanctuary of the SS. MM. Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino was started by the population in 1517 when the relics of the three martyred brother saints were found in the monastery of San Filippo di Fragalà and then transferred to Lentini. Inside the church premises it is possible to visit a very large collection of ex voto.
The construction of the church was started by the population in 1517 when the relics of the three martyred brother saints were found in the monastery of San Filippo di Fragalà and then transferred to Lentini. Completed in 1593, the factory expansion works began in 1650 on the orders of the Vicar General Francesco D’Amico and lasted until 1662. The bell tower, on the other hand, was built in 1857 in Gothic-Lombard form on a project by the architect. Giuseppe Torrisi.
The church is structured with three naves in the shape of a Latin cross but in ancient times the church consisted of a single room built on the ruins of the ancient icon that the first Christians erected on the spot where, according to tradition, the holy brothers stopped in 252. They keep the gilded simulacra of the martyrs dating back to 1715, various canvases and stone elements also attributable to the 16th and 17th centuries.
An important museum has been created in the rooms adjacent to the church which exhibits over a thousand Ex Voto (votive paintings), some of which date back to the eighteenth century.
Inside the Sanctuary of Sant’Alfio we find the Museum of Ex Voto.
Ex Voto generally consists of an offering made to the saints as a sign of gratitude for the grace received. The votive offering takes place in many ways: in the form of money, or a part of the human body reproduced in wax. Inside the Ex Voto room, in addition to finding offers of different materials, the votive tablets also stand out, which are nothing more than small paintings that reproduce the “scene of the miracle”.
The Mother Church dates back to the 15th century, but over the centuries it has been restored several times to then take on its present appearance. The building is dedicated to San Nicola di Bari, and is characterized by spectacular interior decorations. the outside is also fascinating, with its imposing facade and majestic staircase. Among other things, from this point you can observe breathtaking views and reach the Calabrian coast.
Rebuilt in 1701 after the damage of the 1693 earthquake, it was administered by the Confraternity of the Dead who also took care of its radical restructuring during the 19th century. The exterior has a lava stone portal with a window above and a bell tower on the left; the interior, on the other hand, has a single nave with a rectangular plan, much less rich than other churches in the town due to thefts that deprived it of numerous furnishings. There is still a wooden crucifix of extraordinary expressiveness, attributed to the school of Fra’ Umile da Petralia, and the ancient and valuable statue of the Immaculate Conception. The works concluded by the Superintendency in 1997 brought the church back to its original forms, rediscovering at the same time the ancient burials which had been inactive since 1899.
One of the oldest monuments in the town is a lava stone tower called “il Mulino” which dates back to the 16th century. The structure was born with a defensive purpose, that is as a watchtower. Later the Romans transformed it into a mill: precisely, into one of the most famous windmills of our peninsula. Its particularity consists in the fact that, currently, the ornamental elements, the stone cannons and the millstones once used for processing the grain are still intact.
On the other hand, the Palazzo dei Principi Di Giovanni dates back to the 17th century. The largest and most important church is the Sanctuary of Saints Alfio, Cirino and Filadelfo (1650) in white stone and lava stone, richly decorated inside with frescoes and period paintings. The precious statues of the three saints are also kept here.
The territory is rich in naturalistic attractions because it develops between the metropolitan area of Catania and the Etna park and includes the volcanic cones of Monte Ilice, Monte Gorna, Monte S. Nicolò, Tre Monti, Monte Serra. And it is right at the foot of one of the extinct craters that numerous vineyards arise, in fact this area is part of the so-called wine roads of Sicily: real tasting itineraries, which aim at enhancing the territory and local food and wine products.
In fact, Trecastagni is an authentic oasis of peace, with its ancient alleys and restaurants offering exquisite dishes.