Agira: History, Views and Sicilian Specialties

Agira combines a multilayered history with distinctive religious buildings, museums, regional cuisine and expansive views across the landscape. If you would like to get to know Sicily beyond its well-known coastal towns, exploring Agira leads to remarkable evidence of Jewish history, traces of Greek and Benedictine traditions, and a characteristic pastry from the town.

Landscape above the Sicilian plains

A viewpoint at an elevation of 824 m near Agira offers views of the peaks of the Madonie and the nearby Nebrodi, Mount Etna, the artificial lakes of Pozzillo and Sciaguana, and the plains of Caramitia and Dittaino.

History with unusual evidence

One of the most distinctive historical artefacts is the Aron of Agira. It was made in 1454 and originally served to store Torah scrolls. Following the Edict of 1492, it is considered the only surviving Aron in Sicily. Its significance therefore lies not only in its age, but also in the connection between craftsmanship, Jewish history and the island's eventful past.

Another chapter of the town's history recalls the Sicily campaign. Afterwards, those responsible decided to bring together in one cemetery the graves of the Canadians who had fallen in combat on the island. Canadian officers selected the site in Agira in September 1943. Agira's historical interest therefore encompasses both older religious evidence and the remembrance of events from the 20th century.

Churches, monastic traditions and the town centre

The Chiesa del SS. Salvatore stands in Agira's original settlement centre below the mountain occupied by the Castello and immediately beside the preserved remains of the castle wall. Those examining the town's architectural history will find here the close connection between the settlement centre, the castle area and the religious building.

The Abbazia di San Filippo stands on the remains of a Greek monastery founded between the 7th and 8th centuries according to the Basilian Rule outside the town, at the foot of Monte di Agira. The structures of the San Filippo monastery were restored between 1095 and 1101 and entrusted to Benedictines. In the Chiesa di San Filippo, you will find a three-aisled basilical interior with red marble columns. The semicircular choir has 25 seats depicting important episodes from the life of Saint Filippo.

Museums and the flavours of Agira

The Museo di Cultura Materiale Nasca displays tools, craft workshops, musical instruments, and historical and photographic documents relating to domestic and agricultural life in Agira. The Museo naturalistico-ambientale Diodoro Siculo complements this with a focus on natural history. It is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; opening on Saturdays and Sundays is possible by prior reservation.

The Cassatelle di Agira are part of the town's culinary heritage. These traditional, half-moon-shaped pastries consist of delicate shortcrust pastry and are filled with cocoa, chopped almonds, chickpea flour, sugar and dried lemon peel; cinnamon is sometimes added. It is precisely this unusual filling that distinguishes the specialty from ordinary small pastries and makes it a distinctive flavour of Agira.

More destinations for your Sicily research

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Agira, you can also include Gagliano Castelferrato, Aidone, Centuripe, Valguarnera Caropepe, Sant'Anna, Barrafranca, Calascibetta and Pietraperzia in your further selection.

For the overarching travel overview: Enna.