Discover Ragalna and the Etna Landscape

Ragalna combines striking Etna landscapes with religious heritage, astronomical discoveries and a distinctive culinary tradition.

Places and traditions around Piazza Cisterna

A cultural landmark is the Chiesa Madre di Maria SS. del Carmelo on Piazza Cisterna, the town’s most important religious building. The cistern also stands on this piazza; it is an old water reservoir used to collect rainwater. In Contrada Monte Marzo, the votive chapel of Santa Barbara commemorates the work of sculptor Barbaro Messina with a bas-relief commissioned from Pietro Scuderi and a cross.

The Chiesa Madonna delle Nevi has a distinctive architectural character. Its large wooden roof surfaces, canopy and striking art-glass window recall the structural elements of a typical Tyrolean mountain hut. The Madonna del Carmelo patronal festival is also a fixture of the cultural calendar. It is held on the last Sunday and Monday of September; processions and a final fireworks display on Monday evening are part of the celebrations.

Hiking trails through lava and forest

For active exploration, Sentiero 785 connects the inhabited area of Ragalna with the Etna hiking trail network created by Parco dell’Etna. The trail reaches the Pista Altomontana dell’Etna, the main route in this network. From there, hikers can continue exploring the mountain area. Ragalna therefore offers a clear distinction between a starting point in the inhabited area and onward trails on Mount Etna.

The Sentiero Monte Nero degli Zappini offers a distinctive hiking experience. The approximately 4-kilometre circular trail lies within a state forest area and passes through old and recent lava fields. It also skirts an adventive volcanic cone. In Parco dell’Etna near Ragalna, trails also pass through old and recent lava fields, lava-flow caves, hornitos, and natural and planted woodland formations.

The Nuova Gussonea Botanical Garden complements this landscape experience with a botanical perspective on Mount Etna. It represents the volcano’s typical ecosystems, including the unique high-altitude ecosystems. Visitors can also observe plant communities that do not occur along the trail. In Piano Vetore, vegetation meets black lava rock shaped by ancient eruptions. The site serves as a starting point for various hikes from which different areas of Mount Etna can be explored.

Astronomy and special places to visit

At the M.G. Fracastoro site in Contrada Serra la Nave on Mount Etna, guided visits are offered by prior reservation. These include a visit to a telescope and observation of one or more astronomical objects. EtnAvventura Serra la Nave adventure park is located in Contrada Serra la Nave in Ragalna, on the Nicolosi–Rifugio Sapienza side at the foot of Mount Etna. Contrada Serra la Nave therefore offers different options: guided astronomical visits and an adventure park.

Taste Ragalna

Traditional dishes and products are also part of the local identity. Salsiccia with caliceddi, a wild-growing vegetable, is one of Ragalna’s traditional dishes. Etna wine and chestnuts are also among the culinary traditions associated with Ragalna. The Enoteca dell’Etna offers the bookable tasting experience “Iemu Spizzicannu”. It introduces visitors to Ragalna’s traditions and provides information about the Arena family and the Palmento Arena complex.

More destinations to research

For further research, you can also view Trecastagni, Acireale, Randazzo, San Leonardello, Linera, San Giorgio, Biancavilla and San Pietro Clarenza.

To the overarching travel overview: Catania.