There are many things to see in Sicily and on top of all of them there cannot be Etna, the highest active volcano in all of Europe, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.
The volcano fascinates with its not rare spectacular eruptions, which however in the past have often injured the surrounding area, often causing destructive earthquakes.
Around Etna the Etna park e Zafferana it is an integral part of it. Defined as the Pearl of Etna, it rises at 600 m. high, right at the foot of the volcano and is appreciated for its monuments and its gastronomic tradition, rich in local products all to be enjoyed and taken home as a tasty souvenir of a trip to Sicily.
Zafferana Etnea: typical products in the "City of Honey"
Sicilian gastronomy is one of the flagships of the island, a real heritage whose origins are often poor. Also Zafferana he has his own typical products and among these stands out the honey.
Many would say that it is saffron but its production was in vogue especially in the past: it is no coincidence that the town bears a name referring to this yellow spice. But it is honey, the so-called "gold of Etna", the true pride of Zafferana Etnea, the basis of local pastries associated with walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, pistachios and hazelnuts.
In Zafferana Etnea you can find several types of honey, carob, orange blossom, chestnut, orange blossom, millefiori and lemon. Honey-based liqueurs and frozen desserts are also produced in the town.
Il Beekeeper Museum it is an unmissable stop to learn about the history and production of this produced in Zafferana Etnea: located in the house of a 900th century beekeeper, with documents, films, beehives and other typical objects associated with honey processing.
In addition to honey, there are many gastronomic specialties of the place, such as the Sicilian fried pizza and skier biscuits, covered with chocolate icing (called liffia). Unmissable are then the Tea Leaves, very sweet dried fruit wafers perfect to be enjoyed together with liqueurs, ricotta, granita or ice cream.
What to see in Zafferana Etnea between churches, villas and parks
The beating heart of Zafferana Etnea is Piazza Umberto I, where there is a staircase in black lava stone on top of which stands the Mother Church of Maria SS. Providence. It dates back to 1731 and it was Francesco Gagliano who commissioned its construction: the exterior dazzles with its Baroque and Art Nouveau facade in candid white stone from Syracuse, dominated by the statue of Christ Pantocrator. Inside there is a beautiful wooden crucifix and a marble altar located in the Chapel of the Madonna della Provvidenza.
Equally beautiful is the Church of Our Lady of Grace, rebuilt in cement in Art Nouveau style when the original building was in wood: on the facade of this church instead there is the beautiful statue of the Vergine delle Grazie.
Zafferana Etnea's bond with Christianity is very strong, so much so that the entire municipal area is literally scattered with votive pillars dedicated to Our Lady of Providence, much venerated by the population as numerous miraculous events are attributed to her.
Walking through Zafferana Etnea you come across numerous elegant buildings including the Town Hall: it is accessed via a monumental double-flight staircase, in the center of which is the marble bust of Giuseppe Sciuti.
Then there is Villa Manganelli, a 700th century building in which it is possible to admire works of art, Art Nouveau floors and XNUMXth century frescoes. The garden surrounding the villa is very enjoyable, albeit smaller than the luxuriant one Municipal park that surrounds Villa Marano, Art Nouveau building seat of the Municipal Library: not far away is the Avenue of Illustrious Men, punctuated by busts dedicated to characters linked to the history of Zafferana Etnea and ending with a beautiful liberty-style aviary.
Zafferana Etnea is part of the Etna Park and, after a visit to this large and suggestive naturalistic area, do not miss a visit to this village, which fascinates with its churches and conquers the palate with its typical honey-flavored products.
What to do on Etna and its surroundings
© Image by Rabe!, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
