Luxury Family Villas with Pools

Discover Mascali

Historical Notes 

The name of the Sicilian municipality of Mascali would appear to date back to the ancient Byzantine Μασχάλη, meaning armpit or wooded, due to the extent of its dense woods, once connected with the ancient Aci forest. It was dominated by the Arabs in the 10th century, then conquered by Roger I the Norman in 1082, and subsequently subjected to the power of the diocese of Catania. During the 14th century, there was a long Angevin-Aragonese war, with the subsequent devastation of the city. In 1543, with the "mero e misto imperio" issued by Charles V, the bishop of Catania Niccolò Maria Caracciolo obtained jurisdiction over the territory, thus officially establishing the County of Mascali. In the 16th century, 7 watchtowers were built to defend the city from incursions by Turkish pirates. The disastrous Val di Noto earthquake left Mascali semi-destroyed in 1693. Later, the city's passage to Bourbon rule marked the end of the old county of Mascali, which would lead in 1815 to the secession of the "Quartiere delle Giarre", present-day Giarre.

Key attraction

With an area extending from the sea up to the Etna Park, the territory offers a very wide and characteristic landscape variety, ideal for those who want to spend a relaxing holiday in Sicily.

Some of its hamlets are purely maritime, others mountainous.

The lava that has affected the Mascali area over the centuries is well preserved, and this can certainly be interesting both for tourists and for scientists studying these phenomena, in particular to understand the nature of Etna's eruptions. Downstream is the "La Gurna" protected area, one of the last fragments of an extensive wetland that until the 19th century stretched along the Ionian coast from the Macchia stream to the mouth of the Alcantara river.

In the immediate vicinity of Mascali is Fondachello, its seaside hamlet now an important tourist centre. Its particularly cold waters, and its deep seabed and the fresh water currents of the Fiumefreddo river, characterise the area. The beach in this area consists of coarse sand at the beginning which, descending, becomes coarser with smooth, grey-white stones up to the shoreline. Today it is a summer destination for numerous holidaymakers who crowd the beaches along the coast from Fondachello to Sant'Anna in the summer season.

Places to visit

• The Mother Church . The church of "San Leonardo Abate" was built in the 20th century by the Messina engineer Camillo Autore, following the 1928 lava flow, and is located in Piazza Duomo, in the current urban centre. Inside the church, the relics of San Leonardo Abate, the patron saint, are kept in a silver urn. On the solid wood door, some moments from the life of the saint of Noblac are engraved. Every 6th of November, there is a liturgical celebration in honour of the presumed date of San Leonardo's death.
• The Church of the Nunziatella. Called "Chiesa della Nunziatella" by the locals, the Church of the Santissima Annunziata is located in Nunziata, one of the hamlets of Mascali. The building of early Christian and medieval origin has a basilica shape, a bell gable, and an entrance door with the inscription: "Ecce ancilla domini fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum, LC 1,38". Inside the single nave, there are Byzantine frescoes dating back to the second half of the 12th century, recently restored. Following a restoration started in 2012, the remains of an early Christian basilica from the 6th century were found, preserving two mosaic floors.

• The Beaches of Fondachello. The beaches of Fondachello, boasting coarse sand and a clean sea with a deep seabed, are among the most visited in eastern Sicily. They feature many beach resorts alternating with stretches of free beach. 
• Sant'Anna.  The locality of Sant'Anna is one of the hamlets of the municipality of Mascali and is located only two metres above sea level. It has only five hundred inhabitants but boasts a small church dating back to the 16th century. The church, which bears the name of the hamlet itself, was destroyed by sea storms and bombings but was rebuilt and reopened for worship. No trace remains of the monastery annexed to the church or of the ancient painting of Sant'Anna, stolen in 1979.
• Puntalazzo.  The first records we have of the village of Puntalazzo date back to the 17th century. Called "Puntalazzu" by Sicilians, it was usually the lodging of wealthy vineyard owners during the summer period. Even today, it is a holiday destination in the same period of the year, thanks to its particularly elevated position.

• Montargano. Montargano (known as "Muntarianu") is located between Puntalazzo (a hamlet of the municipality of Mascali) and Presa (a hamlet of the municipality of Piedimonte Etneo). The only small church in this hamlet is dedicated to San Michele Arcangelo, the patron saint of the village, to whom an annual procession is dedicated. The village is very quiet, in fact, it is a destination for many holidaymakers, especially in the summer period, thanks to its position in a hilly area that offers a magnificent panorama.
• Sant'Antonino.  The village of "Sant'Antuninu" is the only remaining portion of the ancient Mascali, destroyed by the eruption of Mount Etna in 1928. The only church present is that of "Gesù e Maria", dating back to the 18th century. It features an imposing lava stone portal and a bell tower built after the 1928 eruption. Inside, we find a papier-mâché statue of the Madonna delle Grazie and an 18th-century painting depicting the journey to the crucifixion. On 9 November, the inhabitants thank the patron saint, Sant'Antonio di Padova, for saving them from the lava.

Typical Products

Nearby

• Etna (Linguaglossa): 14 km
• Taormina: 20 km
• Catania: 32 km