Holiday apartment in Tortorici: discover churches, lakes and the Nebrodi

Tortorici combines church art and processions with lake landscapes in Parco dei Nebrodi and the Sentiero delle Sorgenti.

Churches, art and history in Tortorici

The Chiesa Santa Maria Assunta was built at its current location between 1756 and 1798. It houses paintings by the painter Giuseppe Tomasi, who was originally from Tortorici, including works from 1638, 1652 and 1653. The church preserves an artistic heritage spanning five centuries. The Chiesa di San Francesco, also known as Chiesa del Convento dei Frati Minori, is also a national monument and was rebuilt at its current location in 1602. It houses a marble group depicting Saint Francis and Brother Leo. It was commissioned from Antonello Gagini in 1535 and executed by his sons in 1559.

Other sacred sites encompass different periods and traditions. The Chiesa di Santa Emerenziana already existed in 1607 and stands on a rocky outcrop that saved it from the flood of 1682. The Chiesa dell’Annunciazione is also known as Batia and was built at its current location in 1757; a Poor Clare abbey for noble girls was attached to it. The Cappella delle Tre Vergini is a votive chapel. Its name is linked to the legend that a Moorish attacker assaulted three virgins at the site of Acquasanta. The palazzi Palazzo Drago, Palazzo Musarra, Palazzo Petrelli and Palazzo Piccolo are also located around Tortorici.

In the forecourt of the Museo Rosario Parasiliti, visitors can see a bell cast in 1676. The Antica fonderia delle campane “Trusso”, now the Museo Rosario Parasiliti, was built in the last decade of the 19th century and is considered one of the old bell foundries preserved in Sicily. The collection of the Museo Etnofotografico Franchina–Letizia documents the landscapes, work, crafts, family life, community life, ceremonies and rituals of Tortorici and the wider Nebrodi area.

Lakes, forests and regional landscapes

Lago Pisciotto is a natural lake at an altitude of 1,250 metres in the territory of Tortorici within Parco dei Nebrodi. It is of particular importance because of its numerous waterfowl. Lago Trearie lies in the territories of Tortorici and Randazzo within Parco dei Nebrodi. Lago Li Perni, on the other hand, is an artificial body of water surrounded by the park’s beech forests. Its wetland is home to various forms of riverside vegetation and attracts resident and migratory birds. The plant species Petagna saniculaefolia Gussonei, endemic to the Nebrodi area, can be found in the Villa comunale “Falcone e Borsellino”.

The wider landscape also includes beaches around Tortorici: Spiaggia Ponte Naso, Spiaggia di Testa di Monaco and the free beach Spiaggia libera di Brolo. Spiaggia di San Gregorio is located in the broader regional surroundings of Tortorici.

Hiking and religious traditions

The Sentiero delle Sorgenti is a moderately difficult hiking trail approximately 18 kilometres long, taking 7 to 8 hours. It passes through Tortorici, Bronte and Maniace; around half of it follows the historic route used by shepherds and farmers from Tortorici. The tourist route through Tortorici’s historic centre begins at Piazza Principe di Napoli and leads via a staircase to Via Lo Giudice.

The Bula tradition includes a torchlight procession through Tortorici accompanied by drums, ending in Piazza Duomo in front of the Santa Maria church. The first stop of the procession of Saint San Sebastiano is at the Calagni River. There, worshippers walk barefoot through the water while the Vara is halted for prayer. The official access to Lago Trearie via the Dorsale dei Nebrodi initially involves driving to the turn-off for Lago Pisciotto; a hike to Lago Trearie then begins.

Discover more destinations

Also discover Falcone, Caronia, Condrò, Savoca, Leni, Graniti, San Francesco Di Paola and Calvaruso.

For the overview of the wider travel destination: Messina.