Carlentini

Carlentini has a wonderful old town centre characterised by a series of precious mosaics.

Founded in 1551 by King Carlo V to protect the coast from Arab invasions, Carlentini is a charming village located in the province of Syracuse. It has been considered as a fortress since the 1857 when it became an independent village. Walking through the old town centre there are incredible open air mosaics such as the street Mosaic of Via Nazionale, considered the largest in the world, it is around 600 square metres and was created by the architect Maria Grazia Brunetti using lava stones, limestones and recycled materials; the Mosaic of Piazza Malta otherwise known as ‘Leone Rampante’ was also designed by Brunetti, and is a symbol of Carlo V and the city’s power. Carlentini has two significant churches from where you can admire the typical Sicilian Baroque style, first the Church of Madre di Santa Maria Immacolata e Santa Lucia, and the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine.
The Casa dei Mestieri Antchi e delle Tradizioni Popolari (the House of Ancient Professions and Folk Traditions) is a museum for the history of folk traditions and ancient crafts of this amazing village.
Close to the village it’s possible to arrange a trip to Pedagaggi a small town founded between the 12^th and the 13^th century. Here it is possible to visit two lovely sacred places, the Church of Santa Maria della Stella and the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli which hosts a little ethno-anthropological museum dedicated to the history of the village. Here there is also the archaeological sites of Sorgente and Paradiso, where there are some caves that include painting and findings dating back the Neolithic and Bronze period.

People live here:

17.901

Typical food:

Prickly pear mustard

Attractions:

Rassegna dei Sapori Antichi Carlentinesi, this is a no profit food festival where it is possible to taste and buy all the local and traditional foods such as the Focacce Caserecce, many fresh cheeses and sweets.

Rassegna Agroalimentare Pedagaggese e Sagra del Fico d’India: this fest has been created with the aim to promote the local agriculture with its best products such as prickly pears, handmade pasta called Cavateddi, ricotta cheese, focacce, wine and oil.

How to get there:

From Messina, Catania take A 18 Messina – Catania, then follow A18 Catania -Siracusa-Gela, exit ”Lentini – Carlentini”, then take the SS 114, exit SS 194 Catania – Ragusa reaching Carlentini Nord

From Palermo, Caltanissetta, Enna, Agrigento and Trapani

Take A 19 Palermo – Catania exit “A 18 Tangenziale di Catania – Ragusa – Siracusa” ed then follow A 18 Catania – Siracusa – Gela exit “Lentini – Carlentini” then take the SS 114, exit SS 194 Catania – Ragusa reaching Carlentini Nord

From Gela and Ragusa

Take SS 115 exit Ragusa, then take A 18 Catania – Siracusa – Gela exit “Lentini – Carlentini”

Accommodations:

Hotel Ristorante Borgo Nocchiara 3 *

www.borgonocchiara.it

Le Saie Golf Resort

www.lesaiegolfclub.it

Agriturismo Le Chiuse

www.lechiuse.net

Agriturismo Tenuta di Roccadia

www.roccadia.com

Azienda Agrituristica Badiula