Discover Tortorici: Churches, Lakes and Trails
Tortorici combines sacred art, local memory and the lake and forest landscapes of the Parco dei Nebrodi. This allows you to discover the town from several perspectives: among churches and museums, nature observation, historic paths and religious traditions.
Churches, Art and Local History
The Chiesa Santa Maria Assunta was built at its present location between 1756 and 1798. It contains paintings by the painter Giuseppe Tomasi, who was from Tortorici, including works from 1638, 1652 and 1653. The church preserves an artistic heritage spanning five centuries.
The Chiesa di San Francesco, also known as the Chiesa del Convento dei Frati Minori, is a national monument and was rebuilt at its present location in 1602. The church contains a marble group depicting Saint Francis and Brother Leo. It was commissioned from Antonello Gagini in 1535 and completed by his sons in 1559.
The Chiesa di Santa Emerenziana also dates back a long way: it already existed in 1607 and stands on a rocky outcrop that protected it from the flood of 1682. The Chiesa dell’Annunciazione, also known as Batia, was built at its present location in 1757; a Poor Clare abbey for noble girls was attached to it. The Cappella delle Tre Vergini is also associated with it, a votive chapel whose name refers to the legend of three virgins at the place of Acquasanta who were attacked by a Moorish assailant.
Museums and Traditional Craft Culture
A bell cast in 1676 can be viewed in the forecourt of the Museo Rosario Parasiliti. The Antica fonderia delle campane “Trusso”, now the Museo Rosario Parasiliti, was built in the last decade of the 19th century and is considered one of the old bell foundries preserved in Sicily. The collection of the Museo Etnofotografico Franchina–Letizia documents the landscapes, work, crafts, family life, community life, ceremonies and rituals of Tortorici and the wider Nebrodi area.
Lakes, Forests and Birdlife
Lago Pisciotto is a natural lake at an altitude of 1,250 metres in the territory of Tortorici within the Parco dei Nebrodi. It is of particular importance because of its numerous waterbirds. Lago Trearie is also located in the territories of Tortorici and Randazzo, within the Parco dei Nebrodi.
Lago Li Perni is an artificial body of water surrounded by beech forests in the Parco dei Nebrodi. Its wetland is home to various forms of shoreline vegetation and attracts both resident and migratory birds. The plant species Petagna saniculaefolia Gussonei, endemic to the Nebrodi area, can be found in the Villa comunale “Falcone e Borsellino”.
Hiking Trails and Orientation in the Town
The Sentiero delle Sorgenti is a hiking trail of medium difficulty, approximately 18 kilometres long, with a duration of 7 to 8 hours. It passes through Tortorici, Bronte and Maniace. About half of the trail follows the historic route used by shepherds and farmers from Tortorici.
The tourist route through Tortorici’s historic centre begins at Piazza Principe di Napoli and leads via a staircase to Via Lo Giudice. The official access to Lago Trearie follows the Dorsale dei Nebrodi, initially by car to the turn-off for Lago Pisciotto; a hike to Lago Trearie then begins.
Traditions and Destinations in the Wider Area
The Bula tradition involves a torchlight procession through Tortorici accompanied by drumbeats, ending in Piazza Duomo in front of the church of Santa Maria. The first station of the procession of Saint San Sebastiano is located at the Calagni River. There, worshippers walk barefoot through the water while the Vara is stopped for prayer.
The palaces Palazzo Drago, Palazzo Musarra, Palazzo Petrelli and Palazzo Piccolo are located around Tortorici. The nearby beach areas include Spiaggia Ponte Naso, Spiaggia di Testa di Monaco and the free beach Spiaggia libera di Brolo. Spiaggia di San Gregorio lies in the wider regional area surrounding Tortorici.
For the higher-level travel overview: Messina.
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