Maniace

Maniace is an ancient village rich in history and beautiful monuments such as the Nelson Castle and its beautiful Church.

The village of Maniace was founded by Arabs and named Ghiran àd Daquiq. Later Giorgio Maniace conquered the area defeating Arabs in 1040 changing the name of the village with the name of his aristocratic family. The Arab geographer, Idrisi , who used to live at the court of the Norman King Roger II (1112-1154), described Maniace as “a village well- populated rich in merchants, fertile lands and good foods.”

The most important monuments of the village are the Church of Santa Maria, built in 1173 by Regina Margherita on the ruins of an ancient chapel. It is a charming example of Romanic art in Sicily with the Cathedral of Monreale in Palermo. Its interior has three naves with majestic columns and decorations; the Nelson Castle, completed in the 19^th century by the family of the famous Admiral Horatio Nelson, includes the wonderful Church of Madonna della Regina Margherita where it is possible to visit a majestic Gothic-Norman portico and admire impressive Byzantine works of art. Here you can visit a permanent exhibition of objects and documents collected by the Admiral. The castle also inclides a wonderful park where stands a Celtic cross, made with the Mount Etna’s black stone, indicating the burial of the Scottish poet William Sharp;

the Church of San Sebastiano which looks like as the prow of a boat with a bell tower that resembles the head of a rudder.

People live here:

3.606

Attractions:

Sagra delle Pesche e delle Pere, food festival

Festa di San Sebastiano, (20/01) holy festivity

How to get there:

By Car:

From Palermo

Get on Autostrada Palermo – Catania (A19) exit Tangenziale di Catania. Take Superstrada (SS121) to Paternò and continue to Adrano (SS284), Bronte. Follow Strada provinciale to Maniace.

From Messina

Get on Autostrada Messina – Catania (A18) exit Fiumefreddo and take SS to Randazzo exit Bivio Stivale, Maniace

Accommodations:

La Casa sui Nebrodi

http://www.lacasasuinebrodi.com/

La Fucina di Vulcano

http://www.hotelristorantetna.it/it/

Bed & Bike Ai Tre Parchi

http://www.aitreparchibb.it/

Hotel Da Marianna

http://damarianna.net/

Country House Lo Scudiero di San Teodoro