Piraino is a small village set on the cliff that goes from Capo D'Orlando to Capo Calavà. Founded in the 9th century by the Arabs, it passed under the power of various feudal families, it still retains the appearance of an ancient village with its narrow alleys and houses huddled together. Piraino is known as the town of the two towers due to the presence of a fortified citadel and another large tower that dominates the town. Downstream of Piraino rises the hamlet of Gliaca di Piraino, a picturesque seaside village which extends along the Saracen coast, famous for its wonderful sea and splendid view of the Aeolian Islands.
What is the best time to visit Piraino?
Piraino 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 Piraino 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 medieval nucleus of the town is an ancient fortified citadel: traces of walls and remains of the city gates, Porta Terra and Porta Cacciatore can still be recognised. Numerous religious buildings enrich the historic center of Piraino: the most important church in the village is the Church of Santa Maria de Medio Augusto, known as La Batia, which houses splendid Byzantine frescoes; the sixteenth-century Mother Church of Santa Maria, the Mother Church of the village, which houses valuable works of art and ancient catacombs; the Church of Santa Caterina, which stands on a hill from which you can enjoy a splendid panorama of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Aeolian Islands; the Sanctuary of the SS. Ecce Homo which houses the venerated statue carried in procession during the festival celebrated in October; the architectural complex formed by the church of San Francesco and the convent of the Minori Osservanti; the Rosario church with its fifteenth-century bell tower; the church of Santa Maria della Catena which houses valuable frescoes from the church of Batia; the Church of San Cataldo, a small sacred building from the 17th century; the Church of the Virgin of the Seven Sorrows, located in the Lacco district; Church of San Biagio, located in the district of the same name, built on the remains of a pre-existing church dating back to the 17th century; the former Church of Sant'Anna, now a multifunctional center dedicated to the memory of Marianna Denti; the recently built Church of the Immaculate Conception, known as the Church of Modonna del Tindari, located in the Salinà district; The former Church of Carmine, now used as a warehouse; the Church of San Leonardo, Church of San Leonardos, located in the district of the same name, dating back to the 17th century; the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, known because in this place those who died violently were buried; the Church of Saints Elena and Constantine, dating back to the 17th century, whose peculiarity lies in the fact that it is one of the few Sicilian churches to be dedicated to a figure of Saint recognized by the Eastern Church; the Church of Sant'Ignazio, located in the district of the same name, the Church of the Madonna delle Grazie, the Church of the Madonna del Lume, the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, the Church of the Madonna del Carmelo, the Church of San Bernardo, all recently built.
Of particular interest are: the municipal pine forest, a pleasant viewpoint from where you can enjoy a splendid panorama of the hills, the sea and the Aeolian Islands; the Guardiola, another extremely beautiful panoramic point located at 380 m above sea level in a position overlooking the sea; The Saracen tower and the Torre delle Ciavole, built with a control and defense function; a staircase decorated with ceramics from Santo Stefano di Camastra; the Ducal Palace, built between the 15th and 16th centuries;
In the seaside hamlet of Gliaca di Piraino there is the Sicilian Travel Museum, the Church of Maria SS. of Lourdes, a splendid seafront for long walks, and the magnificent beach bathed by clear, crystalline waters, which is part of the renowned Saracen Coast.
Traditional Festivals, Events, Live Show, Concerts,... Piraino
Among the religious festivals celebrated in the village of Piraino we remember: the Feast of Maria SS. of Lourdes, celebrated on February 11th and characterized by a suggestive torchlight procession; the Feast of the Patron Saint Saint Joseph; the feast of San Rocco, celebrated on August 16th and accompanied by the traditional maccarunata; the Festa del SS. Ecce Homo, the most awaited religious festival in the village of Piraino.
Typical food, local wines and drinks, traditional dish to taste in Piraino
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.
Among the typical products of the village of Piraino we find cheeses, cured meats, honey, hazelnuts, almonds, oil and wine.
Interesting Facts
Interesting and fun facts, mythology, legend, folk tales and more to know about Piraino
