Melilli is well known for its summer food festivals.
Melilli has very ancient origins, in fact archaeologists consider this amazing village the old town of Hybla, settled in seventh century BC. After the Middle ages it was governed by the Moncada family and completely destroyed by the two earthquakes in 1542 and 1693.
The Mother Church of San Nicolò it the most ancient sacred place of Melilli dating back to the Norman period. After the earthquakes it was rebuilt and redesigned by the Sicilian architect Michele Trigilio who adorned the church with the local Baroque style. In addition the village holds an interesting overview of the rare minerals, fossils and findings which describe the ancient story of this land in the Natural History Museum.
The village has an astonishing environment characterised by incredible natural caves and only 50 of them has been explored by speleologists; the most famous being the Pirrera Cave, close to the centre of the village, it is a huge cavern at 26m high. Historically this cave was used to extract precious limestone to built the main buildings and church of the old town centre.
People live here:
13.584
It is famous for:
the archaeologists Giulio Emanuele Rizzo and Rosario Carta;
the poet Giuseppe Aurelio Costanzo;
Attractions:
La Sagra del “Cudduruni a miliddisa”, it is a festival that was born to promote one of the most important local baked product of the village, a focaccia with anchovies, onions, oregano, dried tomatoes and olive oil.
Rassegna Enogastronomica “Pititti, Pititteddi e Luccumarei” this festival offers a large variety of typical local food cooked with traditional recipes.
Festival delle Due Sicilie: it is a festival that was born with the aim to promote the folk traditions of the South Italy.
How to get there:
From Messina and Catania
Take A 18 Catania – Siracusa – Gela exit “Melilli”, then follow S.P. Priolo Gargallo – Melilli – Villasmundo and then take S.P. Melilli – Sortino
From Palermo, Caltanissetta, Enna, Agrigento and Trapani
Take A19 Palermo – Catania exit “A 18 Tangenziale di Catania – Ragusa – Siracusa” and then A 18 Catania – Siracusa – Gela exit “Melilli”, take S.P. Priolo Gargallo – Melilli – Villasmundo and follow S.P. Melilli – Sortino
From Gela and Ragusa
take SS 115 exit Rosolini, then continue on A 18 Siracusa – Gela exit “Melilli”, then follow S.P. Priolo Gargallo – Melilli – Villasmundo and take S.P. Melilli – Sortino
Accommodations:
Hotel Ristorante Borgo Nocchiara 3*
Hotel Express by Holyday Inn
Contrada Spalla Città Giardino
Ph. +39 0931 765 254
Hotel Ristorante Club Pegaso
Hotel Ristorante Sicilfuel
S.P. 3 Augusta – Villasmundo
Ph. +39 0931 914 006
Agriturismo Massaru Pippinu
B&B Eden Park
Viale Edoardo Garrone 62 (Città Giardino)
Mobile +39 331 7533636
Restaurants:
Acquapark – Discoteca Paradise
Contrada Spalla Città Giardino,
Ph. +39 0931 761 474
Bowling Manhattan
Corso Sicilia S/N (Città Giardino)
Ph. +39 0931 761 320 fax +39 0931 761 338
La Triglia d’Oro
Contrada Spalla 1 (Città Giardino)
Ph. +39 0931 761 057
Matrix Club
Contrada San Giorgio
Ph. +39 0931 550 318
O’ Saracino
Contrada Pietre Nere
Mobile +39 338 9018314
Trattoria Spirito Santo
Via Roma 10
Ph. +39 0931 955 554
Tuttumunnuepaisi
Contrada Castello
Ph. +39 0931 955 599
Beaches:
Priolo Gargallo
Marina di Melilli
Brucoli