Acireale: the Baroque town with 100 bell towers

What to see, things to do, what to eat, interesting facts

Acireale

State: CT - Area: Catania and Etna

Acireale is a picturesque town that stands on a promontory overlooking the sea: the Timpa. It is said that it originated from Xiphonia, a mysterious Greek city that disappeared. Its name is linked to Greek mythology, to the shepherd boy Aci and its beloved nymph Galatea.
It is surrounded by small seaside villages that rise along the Riviera dei Cyclops.
The Carnival of Acireale is the most beautiful in Sicily.

What is the best time to visit Acireale?

Acireale can be visited all year round: the welcome and warmth of the Sicilians will amaze you. But for an unforgettable experience, admiring the colors, tasting the flavors and fully experiencing the traditions, it is advisable to plan a visit on the days of one of the festivals that take place in Acireale during the year.

If you want to know about upcoming festivals and events Click here and you will find a list of the most important ones.

What to see in Acireale

Acireale is the city of a hundred bell towers: its historic center, crossed by an elegant course, is full of religious buildings.

Acireale Tourist Map

Belvedere Garden of Acireale

Acireale Cathedral

Basilica of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Acireale

Acireale Cathedral Square

Puppet Opera Museum of Acireale

Musmeci Palace in Acireale

Zelantea library of Acireale

Modò Palace in Acireale

Museum of the Carnival of Acireale

Basilica of San Sebastiano in Acireale

Chiazzette of Acireale

"La Timpa" Nature Reserve

Village of Santa Maria La Scala

Eighteenth-century Nativity Scene in Acireale

Village of Pozzillo

Sanctuary Maria SS. of Loreto in Acireale

Scammacca Castle in Acireale

Village of Capo Mulini

Village of Santa Caterina

Things to do

Its characteristics make both a guided tour of the historic center and aquatic activities in one of the small seaside villages that arise along the Cyclops Riviera and a nature walk in the Timpa extremely pleasant.

Traditional Festivals, Events, Live Show, Concerts,... Acireale

Carnival is certainly the most important event in Acireale and is considered one of the most beautiful in Sicily.

Christmas in Acireale
18 Dec 2024 - 6 Jan 2025

Itinerary of the Nativity scenes in Acireale
December 2024 - January 2025

Historic Magi parade in Aci Platani
January

Feast of San Sebastiano in Acireale
Jan 2025

Carnival in Acireale 2025
15 Feb - 4 Mar 2025

Festa Santi Fratelli Martiri ad Acireale
Apr 2025

Flower Festival in Acireale
May 2025

Feast of Mary SS. Rosario in Acireale
May 2025

Sicilian Granita Festival - Nivarata in Acireale
May 2025

Jaci&Jazz - Acireale Jazz Festival
Jun 2025

Summer Festival in Stazzo
Jun - Jul 2025

Fest of Santa Venera in Acireale
Jul 2025

Octopus Festival in Pozzillo
Jul 2025

Aci and Galatea Prize in Acireale
Jul 2025

Swordfish Festival in Pozzillo
Jul 2025

Feast of Santa Magherita in Pozzillo - Acireale
Jul 2025

La Vela D'Oro Festival in Stazzo
Aug 2025

Summer Carnival in Acireale
Aug 2025

Feast of San Giovanni Nepomuceno in Stazzo - Acireale
Aug 2025

Children's midnight in Acireale
Aug 2025

Aci Comics & Games
Sep 2025

Ionian Fair in Acireale
Sep 2025

Feast of the farmer in Pennisi
Sep 2024

Via del Barocco in Acireale
Sep 2025

Feast of San Michele in Acireale
Oct 2025

Fair of the Dead in Acireale
Nov 2025

Autumn Festival in Acireale
Nov 2025

‹ Events in Catania Area

‹ Events in Sicily

What to eat in Acireale

Typical food, local wines and drinks, traditional dish to taste in Acireale

You can obviously taste all the typical products of Sicilian cuisine, the most well-known ones, such as cannoli, Sicilian cassata, arancini, etc. But there are some specialties typical of this area that are more difficult to find in other areas of Sicily.

To view a list of business activity within tourism in Acireale Click here

Interesting and Fun Facts

Interesting and fun facts, mythology, legend, folk tales and more to know about Acireale

Legend of Aci and Galatea
The legend of Aci and Galatea tells of the love between a nymph, Galatea, and a shepherd boy named Aci.

Places of "Malizia" - Acireale
In the Baroque city of Acireale the events of "Malizia" take place, one of the most successful Italian erotic comedies.

Places of "La seduzione" - Acireale
Acireale, with its splendid Baroque monuments, was the set for the movie "The Seduction".

Dual-Use Rifle
Tradition attributes the invention of a special rifle, the dual-purpose rifle, to Baron Don Arcaloro Scammacca of Acireale.

Places of "The Godfather Part III" - Acireale
The Scammacca castle and other places in Acireale were the set of "The Godfather Part III".

The flowered floats of the Carnival of Acireale
The flowered floats of the Carnival of Acireale are born from an ancient tradition of covering cars with flowers.

Legend of wood of Aci
The wood of Aci, which once extended throughout the eastern area of Etna, is surrounded by an ancient legend.

Nivarata - origin of the name
In Acireale, the granita festival takes place every year, better known as "Nivarata", a term that echoes the origins of the Sicilian granita.

‹ Sicily Interesting Facts