Things to do, attractions, interesting facts
State: ME - Area: Taormina surroundings
Graniti is a small village immersed in the Alcantara Park area, surrounded by mountains and hills, rich in woods and lands cultivated with cherry groves, vineyards and olive groves.
Graniti was born as a farmhouse dedicated to agriculture. The first historical document in which it is mentioned dates back to 1117 but it is believed that its foundation may date back to the Arab period, 9th century. It then became a coveted fiefdom: a document attests that in 1356 it was purchased by the Messina noble Giovanni Mangiavacca. The current town was born in the seventeenth century around a farmhouse commissioned by the Count of Taormina at the time and reached its maximum development in the nineteenth century.
Where is Graniti located?
Graniti is a municipality in the province of Messina. Graniti is a municipality in the province of Messina. It rises 300 m above sea level, in the valley of the Petrolo stream, a left tributary of the Alcantara river. It is about 15 km from the Ionian coast and 20 km from Taormina. Its territory falls within the Alcantara Fluvial Park.
How to reach Graniti?
The simplest way to reach Graniti is to use your own car and take the A19 Messina - Catania motorway, exit at the Giardini junction Naxos/Taormina Sud and take the SS185 towards Francavilla - Graniti. Graniti is about 10 km from the motorway junction. It is also possible to reach Graniti by train: you need to get off at Taormina station and from there take a bus or shuttle direct to Graniti.
What is the best time to visit Graniti?
Graniti 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 Graniti 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.
Its historic center is characterized by narrow streets and winding alleys embellished with numerous Murals.
The oldest part of the town was built in the Roccachiacchiera district , where even today it is possible to admire houses with hand-carved stone doorposts dating back to the early 18th century.
Three places of worship stand in Graniti: the Church of San Basilio Magno, the Mother Church of the village; the Church of San Sebastiano, named after the patron saint of the town; the Church of San Giuseppe connected to a convent of Franciscan nuns.
Of particular interest is the Mazzullo Civic Museum which exhibits a collection of early works by the great native artist of Graniti.
From a naturalistic point of view Graniti offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the uncontaminated beauty of nature. The territory of Graniti in fact falls within the Alcantara River Park. Among the sites of interest in the Graniti area is the Rive dell'Alcantara path which offers a pleasant walk along the river. Just outside the town there is the Graniti Pine Forest.
Traditional Festivals, Events, Live Show, Concerts,... Graniti
The Patronal celebration in Graniti, dedicated to the patron saint San Sebastiano, is one of the most awaited events by the population and every year in the summer a large external celebration is organised.
During the period At Christmas, the living nativity scene is traditionally organized in the alleys of this ancient village.
Among the food and wine events, the Graniti Cherry Festival.
Typical food, local wines and drinks, traditional dish to taste in Graniti
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.
The economy of Graniti is based on agriculture: local production is characterized by the delicious cherries, around 10 different qualities are grown. They also produce wine, cheeses, olives, chestnuts, almonds, peaches, mandarins, oranges and lemons.
