Motta Camastra: Gorges, Trails and Sicilian Village Culture

Motta Camastra combines impressive landscapes with trails, churches and culinary traditions. The Alcantara Gorges are particularly striking, while several routes offer different ways to discover the town and its surroundings. When choosing suitable accommodation, it is therefore especially interesting to consider whether the focus should be on gorges and nature, walking trails, or village culture and local specialties.

Alcantara Gorges and River Trails

The Alcantara Gorges are located in Contrada Larderia-Sciara within the municipality of Motta Camastra. In Contrada Larderia, the gorge extends for approximately 400 meters; it is only a few meters wide, while its walls reach up to 50 meters in height. The gorges border the SS 185. From the state road, a long staircase leads down to the exit of the Gole di Larderia. When the conditions of the riverbed permit, it is possible to walk upstream through the cold waters of the Alcantara into the basalt gorge and view various geological formations up close. The Piccole Gole dell'Alcantara trail offers a different perspective. It runs along a particularly scenic, flat section of river with a lava bed, pools and small waterfalls. The route includes Motta Camastra and Castiglione di Sicilia.

Challenging Route and Walks

The Sentiero Montagna Grande begins in Motta Camastra and is classified as a challenging route. It leads to the highest summit of the Peloritani range, at 1,374 meters. Those looking for a shorter cultural walking route will find one in the Sentiero “Il Calvario”: it begins at Piazza Croce and climbs uphill to the summit of Monte Calvario. Three wooden crosses mark the route and refer to the tenth Station of the Cross, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Grotta dei 100 Cavalli is also one of the distinctive natural attractions. It is a large volcanic eruption cave in the San Cataldo area. It can be reached by walking along the banks of the Fiume Alcantara at San Cataldo, below the Ponte Al Quatar and near the municipal boundary with Graniti. From there, you can reach the Torrente San Cataldo and climb up the mountain. This places a challenging mountain trail, an uphill Stations of the Cross route and a path to a volcanic cave alongside one another as clearly distinct experiences.

Views, Churches and San Cataldo

Piazza Roccamare is a picturesque viewpoint in Motta Camastra overlooking the Alcantara Valley and Mount Etna. In the town itself, the Parrocchia di San Michele Arcangelo dates from the 17th century. The church, also known as the Chiesa Madre, houses two marble statues from the 16th century: the Immacolata and the Madonna di Montalto. Further historical highlights include the Chiesa dell’Annunziata, a church probably of Norman origin, and the Ponte di 7 Archi in the Borgo di San Cataldo. The bridge dates from the Fascist era. The Borgo di San Cataldo can be reached by car, public transport and on foot.

Noce di Motta Camastra and Local Traditions

The Noce di Motta Camastra is the most important agricultural product of Motta Camastra and is cultivated in traditional orchards. By ministerial decree of July 22, 2004, it was included in the list of traditional agri-food products of the Region of Sicily; the decree was published on August 18, 2004, in GURI No. 144. The Festa della Noce, held every October, is also part of the local annual calendar. At Easter, you can taste Cuddura cu’ l’ova in Motta Camastra, a traditional sweet pastry. During the grape harvest, visits to the Palmenti are organized, meaning the areas with the wine-pressing facilities and the adjacent presses. When looking for a hotel or other accommodation, you can focus your search on these specific places: Contrada Larderia-Sciara for the gorges, Piazza Croce and Monte Calvario for the Stations of the Cross route, or the town center for churches, the viewpoint and local traditions.

Other Places for Travel Planning

Other destinations you can look at: Malvagna, Roccella Valdemone, Floresta, Alcara Li Fusi, Capizzi, Furnari, Mirto and Tortorici.

For the higher-level travel overview: Messina.