Troina between a fortified town, mountain landscapes and Sicilian cuisine

Troina combines a historic urban character with mountain landscapes and regional food culture. Anyone wishing to discover Sicily not only through individual sights but also through the connections between history, nature and local traditions will find several starting points here for planning their trip.

History between castle walls and museums

The medieval fortified town of Troina was built on fortified walls dating from the Hellenistic period. Four gates and towers are associated with the Norman conquest and give the town its historic character. In this setting, the former Norman cathedral – Chiesa Santa Maria Assunta preserves important examples of painting and sculpture from Troina.

The museums also cover various chapters of the town’s and region’s history. The Antiquarium Archeologico is located in the monumental complex of the Torre Capitania. The MACTRO, the Museo d'Arte Contemporanea del Comune di Troina, is housed in the rooms of the restored former Carmelite monastery dating from the 16th century. At the Robert Capa Museum, the collection “Fragments of War in Sicily” comprises 62 valuable photographic prints made from original negatives, many of which have not previously been published. Additional photographs document battlefields, destruction, the suffering of the civilian population and the everyday lives of Sicily’s inhabitants during the Second World War.

Mountains, water and paths

Monte Muganà is home to a Castelluccian rock necropolis dating from 2300 to 1700 BC, with ten square chambers carved into the rock. The summit offers views of Mount Etna, the Gulf of Augusta and Troina. Another link between landscape and history is the medieval Ponte di Failla: the circular watermill trail leads to this monument, while the bridge overlooks the surrounding landscape.

Lago Ancipa, also known as Lago Sartori, was created by a dam on the Torrente Troina and lies within the municipal territories of Troina and Cesarò. The Monte Acuto–Rocche di Cunnulio site extends across the municipal territories of Cerami, Troina and Cesarò and is considered a characteristic example of the geological heritage of the entire Sicilian mountain range.

Religious tradition and local cuisine

The Festino Troinese is the town’s most important and particularly deeply rooted religious celebration. It honours the patron saint San Silvestro da Troina and is deeply rooted in the town’s religious life. The Chiesa di San Silvestro was originally built by Basilian monks to accommodate the monks of the convent of Sant’Elia.

The Vastedda cu sammucu is also part of the local identity. This typical focaccia from Troina is filled with salami and local cheese and flavoured with elderflowers. It forms part of the annual Festino di San Silvestro, held between May and June.

Excursions in the wider regional area

In the immediate surroundings of Troina / Draginai are the ruins of the Monastero di S. Michele Arcangelo. In the wider regional area around Troina / Draginai are Monte Soro, Monte Turchio, Monte San Fratello and Pizzo degli Angeli. The ruins of the Castello di San Filippo, the Museo della civiltà contadina e fattoria didattica Sant’Andrea and the ancient site of Mendolito are also located there.

When choosing a hotel in Troina, you can incorporate these different themes into your travel plans: fortified urban history, sacred sites, museums, mountain landscapes, waterways and Sicilian cuisine each give your stay its own character. For a broader journey through the surrounding area, Agira, Villarosa, Aidone, Valguarnera Caropepe, Piazza Armerina, Assoro, Centuripe and Barrafranca are also worth considering.

For the overarching travel overview: Enna.