Spring is upon us, soon we will be able to enjoy the beautiful days outdoors, discovering the many beauties that Sicily offers to our sight.
This month we spent a day by visiting a town in the Sicilian hinterland, famous for its typical dessert but which actually has much more to show to visitors.
We are talking about Agira, a town that gave birth to Diodorus Siculus, considered “The father of history” and today we will take you on an immersive journey at five senses.
Are you ready?
Agira is a small village in the Sicilian hinterland, in the province of Enna, rises on Mount Teia and winds through alleys and courtyards where different styles overlap.
It is one of the oldest cities in the interior of Sicily and dominates the fertile valley of the Salso river, one of the richest in history; here was born Diodoro Siculo, a great historian who was the first to try his hand at drawing up a universal historiography.
During our visit to this small village, we could not help but enjoy its splendid position: Agira offers a beautiful panorama from all sides, both for the mountains that surround it, and for the small plain of Caramitia, which is on the road to Raddusa. The view that undoubtedly leaves you breathless is the one that can be admired looking north-east, where suddenly the imposing mamma Etna appears.
Of course, visiting a place with the locals is that extra something we are advocates of. To discover the true essence of a territory, in fact, you must abandon yourself to the stories of those who live these places every day and know every single facet.
It was nice to wander through the streets of the city, in search of places of interest and monuments and discover, in addition to the traces not erased by time, the connections between the inhabitants, the relationships of knowledge and friendship that make a truly unique place. And between one visit and the next, we came across an acquaintance “by chance” and from there it was a succession of stories and laughter, as if we were old friends.
If you think that Agira can be visited all in one day, you are making a mistake. We too thought it was possible to make a quick visit, but every corner hides something interesting to discover and so we suggest to plan at least an overnight stay. A good excuse to enjoy a weekend in total relaxation to discover the ruins of the Castle, the Haaron ha Kodesh of the Synagogue – testimony of the presence of a Jewish community in Agira in the Middle Ages- and the Abbey , to name just a few of the places of interest.
For nature lovers, you cannot miss a walk or a trek to the Natural Reserve Vallone Piano della Corte , between the edges of the Rocca di Agira and the town of Regalbuto. This reserve was established for the conservation and protection of a humid environment of particular botanical interest.
Finally, those who visit Agira cannot fail to taste the famous “Cassatella”, a typical dessert of the Agirina tradition, a crescent of shortcrust pastry filled with a mixture of cocoa, chopped almonds , chickpea flour, sugar and grated lemon zest: a real pleasure for the palate, especially if tasted fresh from the oven! Another typical dessert we did not know were “‘nfasciateddi” , biscuits filled with almonds and honey.
We ended our day with lot of new ideas to bring home and share with you.
We are ready to live a new experience … and you?
