Holiday apartment in Maletto: Nature, culture and strawberry tradition

Maletto combines the “Pizzo Filicia” Suburban Park, historic buildings, an archaeological museum and the local strawberry culture.

Nature and trails around Maletto

The “Pizzo Filicia” Suburban Park is located in Contrada Spirini in Maletto, on a hill at an altitude of approximately 1,140 metres. The park has trails, steps and small equipped barbecue areas and is suitable for walks and picnics. It also offers panoramic views of Mount Etna and the Nebrodi Mountains.

Sentiero 712 “Fontana Murata–Pista Altomontana” is an 8.71-kilometre route of moderate difficulty, with a walking time of 2–3 hours, and is suitable for trekking and cycling. It begins at Fontana Murata in the municipality of Maletto at an altitude of 1,218 metres and reaches the Pista Altomontana at 1,626 metres.

From Maletto, the Rifugio Monte Maletto can be reached via Sentiero 712, the Pista Altomontana and Sentiero 714. The rifugio is an open forest bivouac with a maximum of 16 sleeping places, a cistern and a fireplace. Excursions around Monte Maletto are possible in the area surrounding the Rifugio Monte Maletto. Along the way, aspen stands can be observed up to Monte Guardirazzi; beech stands occur there at the vegetation line.

A circuit for Nordic skiing is designated on Mount Etna within the municipality of Maletto. Lago di Maletto is located in the immediate vicinity of Maletto.

Museum, churches and historic traces

The “Salvo Nibali” civic museum displays archaeological finds from the Neolithic period, various metal cultures and the Greco-Roman period. The finds come from excavations in the area around Maletto. At the same time, the museum presents the region’s archaeological, cultural, folkloric-ethnological and anthropological heritage through detailed educational and museum exhibition routes. For information about opening dates and hours, please contact the institution directly.

The Chiesa di S. Antonio di Padova was built between 1783 and 1786. The Chiesa dei Sacri Cuori di Gesù e Maria was elevated to the parish church of Maletto on 28 May 1877 and replaced the former Church of San Michele Arcangelo; the bell tower was completed in 1883. The history of Maletto dates back to 1263, when the Castello di Maletto was built. The settlement developed around the castle in several phases.

During the war between the Angevins and the Aragonese, which ended in 1372, the Castello di Maletto played an important defensive role for Randazzo and in favour of the Aragonese. The Rocca del Fano was probably already fortified during the Arab-Norman period with a single tower used for observation and signalling.

Festivals and the Fragola di Maletto

The Festa di S. Antonio was established or consolidated as a festival from 1786 onwards. From the outset, the popular celebration in honour of Saint Anthony of Padua was set for the second Sunday in September. At the 38th edition of the Sagra della Fragola, free strawberry ice cream samples were offered at Piazza IV Novembre at 10 a.m.; stalls also opened at 10 a.m. on Via Umberto.

The cultivation of the Fragola di Maletto is concentrated exclusively on an area of 50 hectares within the municipality of Maletto. The strawberries are considered to be of exceptionally high quality and spoil easily, which is why they are sold on the local market.

Choose a holiday apartment in Maletto according to your interests

In Maletto, walks and picnics at Pizzo Filicia meet trekking and cycling on Sentiero 712, archaeological finds at the “Salvo Nibali” civic museum and the Fragola di Maletto as a locally cultivated product.

Other places: Ramacca, Santa Venera-portosalvo, Pasteria-Lapide, Nunziata, Tremestieri Etneo, Torre Archirafi, Santa Tecla and Pedara.

More about Catania: Catania.