What to see, things to do, what to eat, interesting facts
State: CT - Area: Central Sicily
Raddusa, the city of wheat, stands on the border between the provinces of Enna and Catania, on the slopes of the Erei mountains.
The first historical information about the Raddusa fiefdom dates back to 1300. In 1530 the fiefdom was later annexed to the Paternò house , and in 1810 the Marquis Franceco Maria Paternò, obtained from the King of Sicily, Ferdinand III, the right to found a village of Raddusa where new settlers arrived, coming from all over the Caltagirone. Thanks to its flourishing sulfur industry Raddusa, in a short time, developed economically to the point of claiming administrative autonomy.
Today the village of Raddusa still preserves the rural atmosphere intact which lives on in its museums, in its countryside, in the its neighborhoods and, with its traditions and rites, during the famous Wheat Festival.
What is the best time to visit Raddusa?
Raddusa 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 Raddusa 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.
The village of Raddusa still preserves places and evidence of its ancient rural tradition: the ancient Acqua Nuova watering hole, originally used both to draw water and to wash clothes and water animals, an important historical testimony for the town; the Wheat Museum, symbol of the importance of wheat cultivation for the town; the Mill of Santa Lucia, a wonderful example of industrial archaeology, unfortunately today in a state of abandonment.
Other places bear witness to the history and traditions of this village: the Contrada Calderone Archaeological Site where evidence dating back to the Ancient Age of Bronze; the eighteenth-century tower Torre del Feudo; The Destricella sulfur mines, an ancient sulfur mine active until the 1950s, now in a state of abandonment; The Mother Church of Raddusa dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
Of particular interest is the Italian National Tea Museum which collects more than five hundred zisha earth teapots from China, different from each other both in model and size.
Traditional Festivals, Events, Live Show, Concerts,... Raddusa
The ancient rural traditions of the village of Raddusa come to life every year on the occasion of the Grain Festival.
The festival dedicated to the Patron Saint San Giuseppe is of great importance for the village it is celebrated every year on March 19th, on the occasion of the liturgical anniversary, and on September 19th, when the great external celebration takes place.
Typical food, local wines and drinks, traditional dish to taste in Raddusa
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.
Its great rural tradition makes the village of Raddusa a large and important producer of durum wheat and ancient Sicilian grains.
