Discover Lentini: Fortress, Sacred Buildings and Natural Oasis

Fortress on Colle Tirone

Lentini reveals its history through several clearly distinguishable traces. The Castellaccio (Castrum Vetus) is a medieval fortress on Colle Tirone that once protected the town of Lentini.

Churches and Religious Traditions

The sacred buildings lead through further historical periods. The Chiesa Madre Santa Maria la Cava e Sant'Alfio was built in its present form between 1700 and 1750. The Santuario dei Tre Santi was built in the early years of the 19th century over a well where, according to tradition, the martyrdom of Lentini's three patron saints is said to have taken place. The two sacred buildings mark different periods within Lentini: the Chiesa Madre belongs to the architectural history of the 18th century, while the Santuario dates to the early years of the 19th century.

Carcere dei Tre Santi and Patron Saint Celebrations

The Carcere dei Tre Santi (Grotta di Re Tertullo) is a well-preserved example of a prison that was reused during the Hohenstaufen period. The adjacent hypogea, underground rooms, served as burial sites for many martyrs. During the patron saint celebrations, the reliquary bust of San Cirino, which houses the heart of Sant'Alfio, is carried on the shoulders in a procession through the Carcere dei Tre Santi.

Library, Archive and Public Culture

The Riccardo da Lentini Municipal Library allows visitors to consult books, law bulletins, newspapers and periodicals from various fields on site. The Historical Archive of Lentini makes its organized and inventoried documents available for public consultation. It comprises 11 collections containing documents on the history of the town of Lentini. The Aula Falcone is frequently used for meetings with students and initiatives promoting a culture of legality. The library provides printed publications, while the archive contains documents relating to the town's history.

Villa Gorgia and Planning Your Day

Villa Gorgia is scheduled to be open from 07:00 to 13:00 and from 17:00 to 22:00; it is closed between 13:00 and 17:00. If you include Villa Gorgia in your plans, take these two time windows into account when planning your day. There is a fixed four-hour break between the two opening periods, which can be included as a separate break in your daily itinerary.

Biviere e Lago di Lentini

Biviere e Lago di Lentini offers another side of the area. It is once again an important natural oasis and a habitat for visiting migratory birds as well as for the breeding of many other species. At the same time, access is permitted only with the appropriate authorization. Biviere can be seen from trains on the Catania–Siracusa railway line between Lentini Diramazione and Lentini stations. Its visibility from the train therefore does not replace an access permit.

When choosing a hotel in Lentini, you can make culture and history the focus of your days and plan a separate visit to Biviere. The permit requirement for the natural area applies independently; the accommodation itself says nothing about the required authorization.

More Destinations in the Area

Pachino, Villasmundo, San Corrado Di Fuori, Palazzolo Acreide, San Lorenzo, Ferla, Solarino and Plemmirio

To the higher-level travel overview: Syracuse.