Holiday apartment in Giarre: Historic Centre and Valle del Bove

Giarre is located on the east coast of Sicily between Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. Its panoramic position offers views of the Valle del Bove. The townscape combines historic buildings, local culture and destinations for excursions in nature. If you are planning a holiday apartment in Giarre, you can therefore focus on different aspects, from cultural discoveries and botanical attractions to excursions.

Holiday apartment in Giarre between Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea

Giarre has an exit on the A18 Catania–Messina motorway. Giarre-Riposto railway station is on the Messina–Catania–Syracuse railway line. From Giarre, the main natural attractions of Parco dell'Etna, as well as several starting points for excursions and guided tours, can be reached by car within a few minutes. When choosing your location, both road and rail connections and access to natural attractions are therefore relevant criteria if you are considering a holiday home or holiday apartment in Giarre.

Lava stone, Liberty style and sacred art

The historic centre of Giarre features streets paved with lava stone, 18th-century buildings and Liberty-style palazzi. Giarre Cathedral is a Neoclassical church with a Latin cross plan and three naves. The cathedral houses a painting of the Virgin Mary and the Saints by Pietro Paolo Vasta. On Via Callipoli, the Oratorio is considered the only example of Sicilian Barocchetto in the Province of Catania. These diverse architectural and artistic forms provide several cultural points of interest on a walk through Giarre.

Botanical highlights in Radicepura

The Radicepura botanical park has featured a citrus terrace, opened in October 2022. It includes several varieties dating from the 18th century that are part of a project to preserve historic citrus plants. Alongside Giarre's streets, palazzi and churches, this provides a botanical focus that can be taken into account when planning a varied day out.

Puppet theatre and guided tours

The puppet theatre tradition was once vibrant in Giarre. The Teatro-Museo dei Pupi Siciliani of the Compagnia Zappalà is housed at the headquarters of the Pro Loco di Giarre on Piazza Mons. Alessi. For groups of no more than 70 people, the museum stages various puppet theatre performances by reservation and for a fee. The Pro Loco di Giarre also offers guided tours for tourists. In addition to architecture and landscapes, Sicilian theatre traditions are therefore among the specific cultural themes that you can include in your travel planning.

Festivals and history around Giarre

At the Sagra delle Ciliegie e delle Rose, held from 14 June to 16 June 2024, there were food stalls as well as a fair featuring typical products and handicrafts. The Santuario di Santa Maria la Strada is located about two kilometres from the town centre, in the district of S. Maria la Strada on the main road towards Messina. The construction of the Santuario is attributed to Roger the Norman, who had it built out of devotion to the Madonna after his victory over the Saracens in 1080. In Giarre, you can therefore encounter both regional product culture and architectural history with a medieval connection.

Further destinations: San Giorgio, Riposto, Piedimonte Etneo, Mirabella Imbaccari, Carlentini, Vaccarizzo-Delfino, Castiglione Di Sicilia, Linera

To the main travel overview: Catania.