Agira between History, Mountain Landscapes and Sicilian Cuisine

Agira combines Sicilian history with museums, religious buildings, mountain landscapes and a distinctive sweet pastry. This makes it a place where historical traces, regional culture and scenic views come together to create a varied travel experience.

Historical Traces and Religious Buildings

After the Sicilian campaign, those responsible decided to bring together the graves of the Canadians who had fallen in combat on the island in one cemetery. Canadian officers selected the site in Agira in September 1943. Agira is also home to the Aron of Agira. It was made in 1454 and originally served to store Torah scrolls. Following the Edict of 1492, it is considered the only surviving Aron in Sicily.

The Abbazia di San Filippo stands on the remains of a Greek monastery. It was founded between the 7th and 8th centuries according to the Basilian Rule outside the town, at the foot of Monte di Agira. The structures of the San Filippo monastery were restored between 1095 and 1101 and entrusted to Benedictine monks. In Agira’s original settlement, the Chiesa del SS. Salvatore stands below the mountain occupied by the Castello and directly beside the surviving remains of the castle wall.

The Chiesa di San Filippo has a three-aisled basilica interior with red marble columns. Its semicircular choir contains 25 seats depicting important episodes from the life of Saint Filippo.

Museums and Regional Everyday Culture

The Museo di Cultura Materiale Nasca presents domestic and agricultural life in Agira through tools, craft workshops, musical instruments, and historical and photographic documents. The Museo naturalistico-ambientale Diodoro Siculo is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; opening on Saturdays and Sundays is possible by prior reservation. The wider area around Agira is also home to the Museo della civiltà contadina e fattoria didattica Sant'Andrea.

Cassatelle di Agira

Cassatelle di Agira are part of the local culinary tradition. These traditional, crescent-shaped pastries consist of delicate shortcrust pastry filled with cocoa, chopped almonds, chickpea flour, sugar and dried lemon zest; cinnamon is sometimes added.

Mountains and Expansive Landscapes

The “Landscape from Piazza Crispi” viewpoint is located in the wider area around Agira. A viewpoint at an elevation of 824 m near Agira is considered a location offering views of the peaks of the Madonie and nearby Nebrodi, Mount Etna, the artificial lakes of Pozzillo and Sciaguana, and the plains of Caramitia and Dittaino.

Monte Iudica, Monte Altesina and Monte Zimmara are mountains in the wider area around Agira. The ruins of Castello di San Filippo are located in the immediate vicinity of Agira. Also in the wider regional area are Castello di Sperlinga and the Ruderi del Monastero di S. Michele Arcangelo.

More Destinations

Valguarnera Caropepe, Catenanuova, Gagliano Castelferrato, Centuripe, Barrafranca, Enna, Nissoria and Pietraperzia

To the overarching travel overview: Enna.