Tortorici – Churches, Lakes and Hiking Trails

Tortorici combines impressive religious buildings, a multifaceted local history and the lake landscape of Parco dei Nebrodi. If you would like to combine culture and nature on your trip, you will find both art-historical details and paths and landscapes with clearly distinguishable characteristics here.

Art and History in the Townscape

The Chiesa Santa Maria Assunta was built at its present location between 1756 and 1798. Inside are paintings by the painter Giuseppe Tomasi, who came from Tortorici, including works from 1638, 1652 and 1653. Overall, the church preserves an artistic heritage spanning five centuries. Another important religious building is the Chiesa di San Francesco, also known as the Chiesa del Convento dei Frati Minori. It is a national monument and was rebuilt at its present location in 1602. Its furnishings include a marble group depicting Saint Francis and Brother Leo: it was commissioned from Antonello Gagini in 1535 and executed by his sons in 1559.

The Chiesa dell’Annunciazione, known as Batia, is also one of the notable historic sites. It was built at its present location in 1757; attached to it was a Poor Clare abbey for noble girls. The Chiesa di Santa Emerenziana already existed in 1607 and stands on a rocky outcrop that protected it from the flood of 1682. In the forecourt of the Museo Rosario Parasiliti, you can also see a bell cast in 1676. The museum is now located in the Antica fonderia delle campane “Trusso”, which was built in the last decade of the 19th century and is considered one of the old bell foundries preserved in Sicily.

Lakes and Nature in Parco dei Nebrodi

Lago Pisciotto is a natural lake at an altitude of 1,250 metres in the Tortorici area within Parco dei Nebrodi. It is of particular importance because of its numerous waterfowl. Lago Trearie lies in the areas of Tortorici and Randazzo, also within Parco dei Nebrodi. Lago Li Perni differs from these as an artificial body of water: it is surrounded by the park’s beech forests, its wetland is home to various forms of shoreline vegetation and attracts both resident and migratory birds.

A botanical detail complements this landscape: Petagna saniculaefolia Gussonei, a plant species endemic to the Nebrodi area, occurs in the Villa comunale “Falcone e Borsellino”. Thus, the natural area extends from lakes and wetlands to a specifically named regional plant species.

Hiking Trails and Different Types of Excursions

The Sentiero delle Sorgenti is a hiking trail of medium difficulty, approximately 18 kilometres long, and takes 7 to 8 hours. It passes through Tortorici, Bronte and Maniace. About half of the route follows the historic path used by shepherds and farmers coming from Tortorici. Another way to get to know the town is the tourist tour through the historic centre: it begins at Piazza Principe di Napoli and leads via a staircase to Via Lo Giudice.

Traditions, Rituals and Everyday History

The collection of the Museo Etnofotografico Franchina–Letizia documents the landscapes, work, crafts, family and community life, as well as ceremonies and rituals of Tortorici and the wider Nebrodi area. Religious traditions include the Bula, a torchlight procession through Tortorici accompanied by drumbeats, which ends in Piazza Duomo in front of the church of Santa Maria. During the procession of Saint San Sebastiano, the first stop is at the Calagni River. There, worshippers walk barefoot through the water while the Vara is halted for prayer. The Cappella delle Tre Vergini is a votive chapel; its name is associated with the legend that a Moorish attacker ambushed three virgins at the place called Acquasanta.

For Lago Trearie, the official access route initially follows the Dorsale dei Nebrodi by car to the turnoff for Lago Pisciotto; a hike to Lago Trearie then begins.

For further research on Sicily, you can also compare Sant’Alessio Siculo, Fondachelli-Fantina, Marina Di Patti, Barcellona Pozzo Di Gotto, San Pier Niceto, Savoca, Spadafora and Gallodoro.

For the overarching travel overview: Messina.