If you want to visit one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages in Sicily this guide on what to see in Novara di Sicilia is for you. A complete itinerary to discover churches, mummies, theaters and watermills. If you also love nature and trekking, you can also hike to the Rocca Salvatesta or the Riparo della Sperlinga.
Things to do in Novara di Sicilia: visiting the village
If you want a complete experience on everything there is to see in Novara di Sicilia, then you must visit the village during the Carnival period. By doing so, in fact, in addition to everything listed in this article, you will also be able to attend the Tournament of the Maiorchino. Once you arrive in Novara di Sicilia, the advice is to drive through the whole village and leave your car in the small parking lot located after the San Sebastiano bridge. During the visit you will cross the whole village from one end to the other and then back again.
Piazza San Sebastiano
The itinerary to discover things to see in Novara di Sicilia starts from Piazza San Sebastiano (San Sebastiano Square). From here you can already appreciate a splendid view of the entire village dominated by its cathedral. In the square, where a church once stood, there is now a War Memorial added in 1932. Walking along the Ponte di San Sebastiano you enter the heart of Novara di Sicilia. Before doing so, however, you can admire on the left several interventions made by Sicilian street artist Andrea Sposari. Two of them, large in size, are dedicated one to the Lancio del Maiorchino (Throwing of the Maiorchino), the village’s most important event, and the other to U paorgiu, that is, the game of the spinning top.
The Church of the Annunziata
Moving toward the center of Novara di Sicilia, the first monument one encounters is the Church of the Annunziata. Its construction dates back to the 16th century, but the interior was completely revised in Baroque style during the 19th century. Inside the church are several works of art, and among them is a splendid marble group dedicated to the Annunciation. The work, created in 1531 by Giovan Battista Mazzola, consists of three statues, one of which, that of the Eternal Father, is walled in the top of the chapel. Also in the Church of the Annunziata are two wooden statues made in the 16th century and dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows and St. Sebastian. They were originally located in the Church of St. Sebastian but were moved here after its demolition.
The Church of San Francesco
Following the road right in front of the Church of the Annunziata, one moves to the upper part of the village. After a few meters one already encounters the Church of San Francesco di Assisi. It is the smallest and the oldest of the churches in Novara di Sicilia and is what remains of a small 13th-century Franciscan convent. Walled in on the left side can still be seen the jamb of a large door and a window both made in the Gothic style. The interior has a single nave and features a splendid wooden ceiling, formed by nine trusses resting on brackets that look like human faces.
The Church of Sant’Ugo Abate
Continuing the itinerary to the upper part we come to the Church of Sant’Ugo, also known as the Abbey of St. Hugh. Where the building stands today, in fact, Circestensi monks had founded the second Abbey of Novara di Sicilia. There is no longer any trace of the monastery, however, and the Church of Sant’Ugo was built on the ruins. The interior is very simple but contains a precious reliquary that, on the Feast of St. Hugh, is carried in procession through the streets of the town. Many objects that were originally inside the church are now displayed in the Treasury of the Cathedral of Novara di Sicilia. From the square where the Church of Sant’Ugo is located there is a beautiful view of the entire village. When the visit is over, you can go back to the Church of the Annunziata to resume the tour of the village.
The Church of San Nicolò
Before entering the area of the Cathedral, continuing on Via Nazionale, you will reach the Church of San Nicolò. It is a very beautiful church, built in the 1600s, with a beautiful staircase made entirely of local sandstone. Inside the church there is a wooden statue from the 16th century, the Christ of the Golden Nails. Every year, during the rites of Holy Week in Novara di Sicilia, it is carried in procession through the streets of the village. In this church, as in the Cathedral, mummifications were performed. In an underground room of the church you can still see the sieves and niches where the mummified bodies were placed. In the small square in front of the church there is another sculpture by Salvatore Buemi called Fune al lavoro, dedicated to the exploitation of child labor.
The Cathedral of Novara di Sicilia
Among the things to see in Novara di Sicilia is definitely its Cathedral. It is the largest church in the village and in its crypt it is also possible to see some mummies. The church was built throughout the 15th century, although there have been several restorations in subsequent centuries. The interior contains several notable works of art, and an oil painting recognized as the true portrait of St. Hugh is preserved in the sacristy. A room adjacent to the church houses the Cathedral Treasury. Several sacred objects are displayed there, including a Gothic-style incense burner and an ancient Arabic terracotta jar known as the Giara of St. Hugh. According to tradition, it was used by the saint to bless and heal the sick.
The ruins of the castle of Novara di Sicilia
From Piazza Duomo, follow the signs to the castle of Novara di Sicilia. A series of narrow streets and alleys lead to the highest part of the village, where an imposing fortress once stood. The construction is said to date back to the end of the 13th century, although there is very little certain information about the castle. The only sure fact is that this fortress had a great strategic value, because from its position it was possible to have visual contact with the castles of Tripi and Tindari, as well as with Rocca Salvatesta and Rocca del Leone. Today the ruins of the castle of Novara di Sicilia have been restored and turned into a restaurant. This is another perfect vantage point to enjoy the view that, in ideal weather, includes the Aeolian Islands. After visiting the castle and admiring the view, you can return to Piazza Duomo along the same route.
Casa Fontana, the Town Hall and the Auditorium
From Via Scandurra, the street that runs along the right side of the Cathedral, you can start to explore the lower part of the village. Even in this area of Novara di Sicilia there is no shortage of things to see. Along the way, you will come across the beautiful façade of Casa Fontana, a three-storey house dating back to the 1600s, where you can still see the sandstone portal. Continuing along Piazza Pirandello you will come to a fork in the road; the road on the right leads to the Town Hall of Novara. If you turn left, you will come to the former church of San Giorgio, whose façade was decorated by master stonemasons from Novara di Sicilia. The building was restored in the 1980s and is now an auditorium.
Municipal Theater “R. Casalaina”
Among the places to visit in Novara di Sicilia is one of the oldest theaters in Sicily. It is the Teatro Civico, built in 1770 for the demanding nobility of the time and dedicated to Riccardo Casalaina. This was a composer from Novara who died at the age of 27 during the 1908 earthquake that destroyed the city of Messina. The theater is still fully functional and is the cultural center of the entire village. A very old tradition that takes place inside every year is the Carnival Vigil. For this occasion, the hall of the Casalaina Theater is transformed into a large dance floor.
The Church of Sant’Antonio
Going down the stairs that flank the Teatro Comunale, we reach the Church of Sant’Antonio. The church dates back to the 1400s and is one of the many examples of the great skill of the master stonemasons of Novara di Sicilia. On the main façade there is a splendid portal with an ogival arch in Norman style. On the sides there are two capitals with the figures of St. Paul the Apostle and St. Anthony Abbot. The interior has three naves separated by two rows of ten monolithic sandstone columns. After the visit of the church we return to via Bellini for the last stop of this itinerary among the things to see in Novara di Sicilia.
The Giorginaro Mill
The tour of the places to visit in Novara di Sicilia ends with the Giorginaro Mill. It is certainly one of the most fascinating places in the whole village, because it is the only water mill still active in the whole area. In fact, in the nineteenth century there were fourteen active water mills in Novara di Sicilia. A slow but inexorable crisis led to their closure. But thanks to the tenacity of the son of one of the old owners, the Giorginaro Mill is now back in operation. Initially opened as a simple museum, the mill is now fully operational and is used to grind ancient Sicilian grains to obtain excellent flours.
Things to do in Novara di Sicilia: Excursions near the village
Once you have completed the tour of the things to see in Novara di Sicilia, you can also make small excursions in the surrounding area. If you are a nature lover, you should not miss a visit to Rocca Salvatesta or the Sperlinga Refuge. If you are lucky, you might even find a great treasure.
The Church of Santa Maria la Noara
The closest and easiest place to visit outside of Novara di Sicilia is the Church of Santa Maria la Noara. It is located in the hamlet of Badiavecchia, just 2 km from the center. The church was part of the first circestense abbey that arose in Sicily. It was built in 1137 by St. Hugh, one of the patron saints of Novara di Sicilia. After a long period of neglect, the church has been restored several times since the 19th century. Today some elements of the original architecture are still visible, both on the external facades and inside the church.
The Salvatesta Fortress
If, in addition to visiting one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, you are interested in nature, Novara di Sicilia is the right place for you. In fact, you will have the opportunity to do some hiking and trekking. One of the main destinations is Rocca Salvatesta. It is the second highest peak of the Peloritani Mountains and one of the most beautiful viewpoints in all of Sicily. From here you can admire Mt: Etna, the Aeolian Islands, the promontory of Tindari and Milazzo. Rocca Salvatesta can be reached from Novara di Sicilia by following a route that will take you to the top in three hours. According to an ancient legend, an immense treasure is hidden inside the fortress. Only a woman can find it, however, and only after performing a very special ritual for 24 hours.
The Sperlinga shelter
Nature and history lovers can add the Riparo della Sperlinga (Sperlinga shelter) to the list of things to see in Novara di Sicilia. It is a place located about 5 km from Novara di Sicilia, where several rocky outcrops form some natural shelters. An archaeological study carried out in the 1950s showed that these were used by prehistoric man more than 8,000 years ago. In fact, several tools and animal remains have come to light. It is therefore very likely that it was a resting place used during hunting trips. To visit it, it is necessary to reach the town of San Basilio and then continue on foot.
