Grammichele is a charming town whose peculiar characteristic is its urban plan: a perfect hexagon. In ancient times it was the city of Occhiolà, later destroyed by the earthquake of 1693, and boasted a strategic position on the hill of Terravecchia dominating the entire valley that extends from Etna to Caltagirone. After the earthquake, it was rebuilt at the behest of Prince Carlo Maria Carafa Branciforti. The attention in the reconstruction project was not simply focused on the urban plan but endowed the city with beautiful monuments that still adorn the main square today. The typical product of Grammichele's gastronomic tradition is the sausage.
What is the best time to visit Grammichele?
Grammichele 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 Grammichele 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
The heart of Grammichele is its hexagonal square, with the statue of Prince Carafa placed at the top of the Scala dei Saperi and the horizontal sundial, probably one of the largest in the world. Overlooking the square are the Mother Church, in Baroque style, and the Renaissance Town Hall which also houses the Grammichele Civic Museum. Also of interest are the Hermitage of Calvario and the Church of San Leonardo which houses a precious crucifix. Of notable historical interest is the archaeological area of Occhiolà which combines the ruins of the ancient medieval city with the Terravecchia Castle and the seventeenth-century Sanctuary of the Madonna del Piano, the only building spared from the 1693 earthquake. Of great archaeological interest is the Poggio dell'Aquila where a sanctuary dedicated to the cult of Demeter and Kore dating back to the end of the 7th century BC was found.
Traditional Festivals, Events, Live Show,... Grammichele
The Patronal feast dedicated to Saint Catherine and Saint Michael the Archangel is the most awaited and important religious event for the city of Grammichele where faith, tradition and folklore mix in a great show: the exit of the Simulacrums of the Patron Saints from the Mother Church. Among other religious festivals we remember the Festa di Maria SS. Addolorata and the Feast of the Madonna del Piano during which the traditional Sausage Festival takes place.
Typical food, local wines and drinks, traditional dish to taste in Grammichele
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.
Grammichele's product par excellence is the sasizza ô ceppu, i.e. the log sausage, which is not processed by mechanical chopping but is made on the log. The log consists of a large circular concave wooden base inside which the chopped meat is worked with a knife and seasoned with salt and black pepper.
Nearby Places
Below you will find a list of the most beautiful places to visit in the surroundings of Grammichele. The places are located at a maximum distance of about an half hour by car. Good fun!
