Novara di Sicilia

Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia

Sebastian FischerNovara di Sicilia CC BY-SA 3.0
EffemsAbbazia SMlN 03 CC BY-SA 4.0
EffemsAbbazia SMlN 04 CC BY-SA 4.0
EffemsDuomo di Novara di Sicilia 3 CC BY-SA 3.0
EffemsMonumenti di Novara cin CC BY-SA 3.0
EffemsMonumenti di Novara due CC BY-SA 3.0
EffemsMonumenti di Novara qua CC BY-SA 3.0
EffemsMonumenti di Novara tre CC BY-SA 3.0
EffemsMonumenti di Novara uno CC BY-SA 3.0
PauladdingtonNovara di Sicilia village CC0
EffemsRocca Salvatesta (Novara di Sicilia) 05 10 2019 28 CC BY-SA 4.0
EffemsRocca Salvatesta (Novara di Sicilia) 05 10 2019 43 CC BY-SA 4.0
NasoallinsuSS Maria Assunta, Novara di Sicilia CC0

Lombard settlers brought by the Normans gave Novara di Sicilia its Gallo-Italic dialect. The village clings to a mountainside between the Nebrodi and Peloritani, below the rock spur of Rocca Salvatesta, with views to ancient Tindari and the Aeolian Islands. Its 17th-century lanes are built of local sandstone and red cipollino, carved by generations of stonemasons, and at Carnival wheels of maiorchino cheese are rolled through the streets.

Highlights

Torneo del Maiorchino, rolling wheels of pecorino cheese at Carnival
The Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta, with a local cipollino marble font
Abbey of Santa Maria La Noara, the first Cistercian foundation in Sicily
The Annunziata church, with a marble Annunciation group carved in 1531
Mountain walks up Rocca Salvatesta, 1,340 metres

Text adapted from Wikipedia (Novara di Sicilia (IT), Novara di Sicilia (EN)), Wikivoyage (Novara di Sicilia (IT), Novara di Sicilia (EN)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Population: 1,174

Things to see

Saint Anthony the Great church (IT)

Events through the year

Feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot Religious · Sunday after 17 January
Torneo del Maiorchino Sport and games · Carnival, ending on Shrove TuesdayWheels of maiorchino cheese are rolled along a set course
Holy Week processions Religious · Holy WeekSilent processions of the confraternities
Festa dell'Assunta Religious · 31 July to 15 August, procession on 15 AugustStatue lit by 150 candles carried by 30 men, then fireworks
Climbing of the Rocca Salvatesta Sport and games · JulyA climb of the rock seen as a test of character
Flower Festival Seasonal · July
Feast of Saint Hugh the Abbot Religious · 16 AugustFeast of the town's patron saint

Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.

Adapted from Wikivoyage (Novara di Sicilia (IT), Novara di Sicilia (EN)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Local food & wine

Biagio MazzùMaiorchino CC BY-SA 4.0
Maiorchino (IT)CheeseHistoric Peloritani sheep's cheese, Slow Food Presidium, rolled at Carnival
Pasta 'ncasciadaDishSummer pasta with veal and mutton ragù, meatballs, aubergine and egg
Lempi e troriDishBoiled beans, grass pea, maize, lentils and wheat, then seasoned
FrittuiDishPork with lard, rind, tripe, lung, heart and liver, boiled together
Ricotta infornataCheeseBaked ricotta
Risu nirùSweetToasted hazelnuts with cocoa, candied orange peel and cinnamon

Adapted from Wikipedia (Novara di Sicilia), Wikivoyage (Novara di Sicilia). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to sleep

No places to stay are mapped within 3 km.

Nearby member villages

Montalbano Elicona · 11 km
Castroreale · 12 km
Castiglione di Sicilia · 15 km
Savoca · 19 km
Forza d'Agrò · 21 km