Naso: Culture, Views and Trails in the Nebrodi

Naso combines the character of a medieval village in the Nebrodi with a historic centre, museums and impressive vistas. On a tour through the town centre, you can see the Aeolian Islands, the Nebrodi side and Mount Etna. This gives the town different points of appeal for a trip that brings together culture, landscape and Sicilian traditions.

Historic Centre and Special Cultural Sites

An important landmark is the Chiesa Madre SS Apostoli Filippo e Giacomo. It originated in the Middle Ages and was expanded and remodelled from the 17th century through the first half of the 20th century. Its basilica layout consists of three naves separated by a monumental Doric colonnade made of local stone.

The Museo Arte Sacra is located in the Catacombe di San Cono. These are structurally connected to the Tempio di San Cono above them. Liturgical furnishings from Naso’s old churches are displayed. The exhibition route covers around 260 m² and four sections, including woodwork and majolica associated with the majolica craftsmen who worked in Naso from the 15th to the 17th century.

Other cultural stops focus on different themes: the Pinacoteca Tano Santoro presents a permanent exhibition of paintings dedicated to the contemporary artist Tano Santoro. The rooms on the ground floor are equipped with facilities for people with disabilities. The Teatro Vittorio Alfieri is named after the writer Vittorio Alfieri and is located at Naso’s main entrance, on part of the old castle walls. The cloister of the monastery of the Frati Minori Osservanti adds a panorama that also includes the Aeolian Islands to the town’s history.

The Museo Arte e Mestieri del Territorio focuses on four subject areas: woodworking, grape harvesting, traditional crafts and tailoring. For schools, guided tours of the exhibition are complemented by educational workshops. Traditional leatherworking is particularly well represented in Naso. The Biblioteca Comunale Carlo Incudine offers a quieter way to engage with history, with a valuable collection of old books and texts dating from the late 16th century to the end of the 19th century.

Trails, Getting There and Landscape

Those who would like to include a nature trail alongside a tour of the town can choose the “Le 4 strade” trekking route, an 8-km circular nature trail. It starts and ends in Bazia. For travel by road, the municipal visitor information describes the route from Messina via the ME-PA motorway and the Brolo exit. It then continues along the SS 113 towards Palermo to the turn-off, 6 km away, onto the SS 116 towards Capo d’Orlando and Randazzo. By train, the journey is via the Palermo–Messina line and Capo d’Orlando–Naso station.

San Cono, Festivals and Local Specialities

The Tempio di San Cono Abate stands on the site of the former Church of San Michele Arcangelo. According to legend, Naso’s patron saint spent the final years of his life there in a grotto. The annual Festa di San Cono combines faith, tradition, culture, music and entertainment and is aimed at believers and tourists. During the festival, the relics and the simulacrum of San Cono are ceremonially transferred from the temple to the Chiesa Madre.

The Fontana U Criatu is also part of the town’s religious landscape. It is located near the San Cono Navacita hermitage in the Rocca D’Almo district of Naso. A different emphasis was provided by the fourth edition of the Iapri Fest, which offered three days of music, art and creativity from 18 to 20 July 2025, following earlier editions. The “Iapri Food” programme featured tastings, show cookings and flavour workshops with typical Sicilian products and local specialities.

If you are looking for a hotel or other accommodation in Naso, you can choose the location according to your preferred travel theme: the historic tour, museums and churches lead into the town’s culture, while “Le 4 strade” provides a distinct focus on nature and exercise. Events and culinary formats complement these options at different times of year. For further comparisons between destinations, you can also view Terme Vigliatore, Quattropani, Milazzo, Santa Teresa di Riva, Sant’Agata di Militello, Letojanni, Galati Mamertino and Cesarò.

For the higher-level travel overview: Messina.