Nunziata
Welcome to Nunziata, the charming hamlet of Mascali
If you are looking for a quaint and characteristic hamlet, Nunziata is the place for you. Located in the metropolitan city of Catania, Nunziata overlooks the Ionian Sea coast and the cities of Giarre, Riposto, and Mascali. Join us in discovering this ancient Sicilian village.
The physical geography of Nunziata
In 1928, a particularly violent eruption of Mount Etna came close to Nunziata but spared the village. However, lava flows from that episode can still be seen around Nunziata. The village is situated in a privileged position that allows it to offer breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea coast.
A brief history of Nunziata
The origins of Nunziata date back to the Greek era, as evidenced by numerous archaeological finds. In the sixteenth century, the hamlet expanded thanks to the leasehold concessions of Bishop Nicola Maria Caracciolo, County of Mascali, becoming the largest village in the territory by the eighteenth century. During this period, the Mother Church of Madonna dell'Itria and the Carmine Church were built. When the struggles for self-government of Giarre began at the end of the eighteenth century, Nunziata and Mascali joined forces to defend their importance. During the liberation of Sicily from Bourbon rule by Giuseppe Garibaldi, Nunziata requested municipal autonomy, which was only granted at the parish level in the early twentieth century. In 1928, the nearby Mascali was destroyed by Mount Etna's lava, while Nunziata remained essentially unscathed.
Monuments and points of interest in Nunziata
Church of the Nunziatella
The Church of the "Nunziatella" perhaps belonged to a Basilian monastery that created a small inhabited center, giving it its name. Today, the Church of the "Nunziatella" is the most important monument in Nunziata, preserving some remains of frescoes inside. The execution of the frescoes dates back to the second half of the twelfth century and is characterized by pure Byzantine painting. In the center of the apse is the Pantocrator Christ with the cruciferous nimbus. At the bottom left of Christ, there is a bust with the nimbed head of an angel, while at the top right of Christ, there is a winged angel.
Nunziata is a hamlet of Mascali that boasts a millenary history and a cultural and historical heritage of great value. Come and discover Nunziata and let yourself be enchanted by its charm.
