Noto Valley: the beauties of Militello in Val di Catania

The beauties of Sicily

The Sicilian beauties they never end!

Every self-respecting city or town has something that must be visited and that enchants…

Militello in Val di Catania

Militello in Val di Catania it is located in the province of Catania: was nominated by Unesco World Heritage Site in June of 2002.

It is located between the Val di Noto and the hills guarding the orange gardens in land of Catania it is to valley of the Lèmbasi river.

E’ also considered one city-museum: he has 24 churches and noble palaces.

His cuisine is tasty and “pure” as only Sicilian cuisine can offer: solo seasonal products.

History of Militello in Val di Catania

According to the Roman writer Pietro Carrera, Militello, originates as Roman settlement in 212 a.C. during the siege of Syracuse when the consul's troops Claudio Marco Marcello they took refuge there to escape a cholera epidemic.

Thus it was that the colony of “Regional military” (land of soldiers) hence the name of “Militello Val di Catania“.

It is thought that, perhaps, it was a Byzantine farmhouse as evidenced by the sacred frescoes in the caves: it was later occupied by Arabs before and, in the feudal period, dai Marchesi Branciforte and Barresi.

After the earthquake of 1693 it was rebuilt in Baroque style.

Monuments to visit

Among the most important masterpieces stand out:

• the Monastery of San Benedetto: made in 1616 in baroque style;
• the Church of Santa Maria della Stella: the facade is full of baroque carvings. Inside you can find one altarpiece from the end of the 15th century by the Florentine sculptor Andrea della Robbia and one fifteenth-century altarpiece of Antonello of Messina;
• the Church of San Giovanni Battista: the floor of the nave is made in splendid Baroque and polychrome majolica from Caltagirone;
• the Barresi-Branciforte Castle: it is one of the most significant buildings. A tower and the entrance arch are still visible. Next to the building is the beautiful Fountain of the Ninfa Zizza.

Paths and naturalistic areas

Not far from Militello there are some fascinating naturalistic areas:

• the Waterfalls of the Ossena: located to the south in a valley of quarries with Mediterranean plants;
• the Calcarone quarry: a cluster of caves inhabited in prehistoric times.

Conclusion