Randazzo is the nearest town to the summit of Mount Etna, lying on its northern slopes. Its architecture reflects its location. Many of the older buildings here are constructed from the black lava stone from Etna, giving them a very distinct appearance.
The town doesn’t seem to get the attention that others in the area do, such as Taormina. But although it arguably isn’t as pretty, it has its own appeal and plenty of interesting sights. We visited on a Sunday and enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere and quiet streets after our Taormina visit the previous day. We also enjoyed much better weather, after yesterday’s rain! Please join me on a walk through the town.
We drove inland from our B&B in Giardini Naxos, around the foot of Mount Etna. Arriving in Randazzo we lucked out in finding a parking spot as someone was backing out just as we drove up. We had a drink in a nearby coffee shop then set off to explore.
The first interesting place we came to was the Chiostro S. Francesco di Assisi, now forming part of the Town Hall. We couldn’t go in but could peer through at the graceful cloister.
Online sources later told me that it dates from 1610 (but with much older foundations). It has served as the city’s Town Hall since 1866, when new laws against religious corporations led to the then Italian Government expelling the resident friars and confiscating their assets. In adapting the rooms to function as a town hall the cells and all other distinctive internal features were lost. The Allied bombings of July-August 1943, when the Allies liberated the island from Nazi control, did the rest.
Outside we found an interesting modern sculpture depicting Peace, Love, and Liberty.
Chiesa di San Nicolò
We had no guidebook and no particular destination in mind, although we’d read in a leaflet in the B&B that the basilica was worth seeing. So we wandered in that direction, soon finding ourselves in the Piazza di San Nicolò, dominated by the church of the same name. This is the largest church in Randazzo, its oldest parts dating back to the 13th century. It was renovated in 1589, as a plaque on the south side records, and later in 1605.
Its imposing façade shows off nicely the use of dark lava stone for which the city is well-known. The coat of arms above the central door depicts the Easter Lamb, indicating that this was once the seat of a bishop. Elsewhere the structure is an interesting blend of lava and reddish stone.
The interior
We found the church open so some of us went in to explore while others rested outside in the piazza. It seemed relatively plain compared to other churches we visited in Sicily. I found some interesting details however: a Wedgewood blue side chapel, a very graphic sculpture of the crucified Christ, an ornate design made from dried pasta which I thought might be left over from a recent festival.
My eye was also caught by some old paintings, one on wood which I haven’t been able to date although I did find a detailed description. This explained that the left panel depicts the Madonna with Child, with on the right Saint James. The ten side panels depict scenes relating to the life and work of Saint James.
The other painting dates from the 17th century and is by a local artist, Onofrio Gabrieli. Its portrayal of Christ is somewhat unusual. He is holding the cross on his shoulders while standing in the centre of a fountain from which streams of water flow down onto the souls in Purgatory.
Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta
Eventually we reached the Basilica which was unfortunately closed but we enjoyed photographing the exterior. It is said to stand on the spot where there was once a cave. Here early Christians used to meet to pray in secret at a time when their Roman rulers were persecuting any who followed this new religion. Later a shepherd boy found an image of the Madonna del Pileri inside this cave. According to legend the Virgin saved Randazzo, then a small village, from an eruption of Etna in the 3rd century AD. A small brick church was later built over the cave. It was replaced by another between 1217 and 1239 and by the current building in the 17th century.
The façade was restored in a Gothic Revival style in 1863. Most of the structure is in the local black lava stone. This gives it a rather sombre appearance, but I liked the symmetry, echoed by the pattern on the piazza in front. And there were lots of attractive details when I looked more closely.
Nearby was a viewpoint over the valley. An old clock told an incorrect time which seemed to fit with the general timeless sleepiness of Randazzo. The sign below told us that this open space was named for an archpriest (senior priest), Vincenzo Mancini.
Elsewhere we passed the ruined Chiesetta di San Gregorio. A sign told us that it was destroyed by WWII bombing, apart from the crypt which still remains beneath the soli here.
Lunch
We’d hoped to find lunch nearby but the nearest likely place was full. Heading back towards the car we found a great alternative, Antico Sappori. It is family-run and was offering a fabulous home-style three course menu for €30. The friendly owner spoke no English but we muddled along with my smattering of Italian and a bit of guesswork. It was quite a feast and although I rarely share food photos here, and forgot to photograph for Jo the ricotta cheesecake that rounded off the meal, I can’t resist sharing some to finish this post. The restaurant was almost full when we arrived (we got the last table) but had emptied by the time we finished our leisurely meal.
As an interesting postscript: after our meal we were looking at some old photos on the wall of the restaurant. The owner pointed out one taken in 1944 in which the rubble of allied bombings was clearly visible. He bore no grudge and seemed proud to tell us General Patton had been in the town. Checking this later I found that the general apparently passed through here on his way to conquer Messina, capturing Randazzo on August 13th 1943. I wish I had thought to take a picture of the old photo as I’ve found nothing similar online.
I visited Randazzo in May 2025
This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Randazzo.
37 Comments
equinoxio21
Italy is an open air museum, isn’t it? (Been too long since I last was there…)
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, a great way to describe the country 😀
leightontravels
Randazzo looks really charming, you have sold us on a visit. We would both love to visit Sicily, Mount Etna particularly captured our imagination a long time ago. The food looks great, that ricotta cheesecake must’ve been the star of the show.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Leighton 🙂 I’m sure you would love Sicily! I’ll be sharing a few other highlights from our brief stay over the coming weeks, but Randazzo was definitely among them. Actually, although the cheesecake was delicious, for me that varied selection of antipasti stole the show 😀
Josephine Hill
Sarah , wonderful photos and description of our visit .
It was a lovely place and we had a great day out .
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Josie 🙂 It was a really lovely day out – I’m glad you enjoyed the memories here!
wetanddustyroads
We just drove through Randazzo on our way to Mount Etna – I wished we could stop there (we were on a tour bus). Now I’m glad to see it properly through your camera lens. The photos of the Basilica with the clouds in the background are beautiful. I enjoy the finer details that you always find on your walks. And happy to see your food 😉.
Sarah Wilkie
I suspect most tour groups don’t stop there, it’s not an obviously beautiful town like Taormina, but there’s lots to like and the architecture is interesting 🙂
grandmisadventures
What a hidden gem of a place! Love the old buildings 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
It was definitely a gem Meg 🙂 Glad you liked those old buildings!
Annie Berger
Looks like Randazzo was a real find with such interesting churches and a restaurant that not only fed your stomachs but your curiosity with the wall of photos.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, we were all rather taken with Randazzo and glad we’d chosen to visit!
Image Earth Travel
The food looks scrumptious, and Randazzo is lovely, but it’s Italy, and to be expected. 😉
Can’t remember if I mentioned that we lived in Calabria for 4 years and while there, drove a hire car to Sicily. We missed Randazzo during the 9 days travelling around, heading southeast of the island, down to Ortigia.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, it’s hard to find a town in Italy that isn’t lovely! We were in Ortigia a few days after this – post to come in a few weeks time I expect
Image Earth Travel
Look forward to reading your post on Ortigia.
Heyjude
What a lovely stroll through this town. The best meal I have ever had (and free) was from a local grocer who took me and my two very young children in to his shop to shelter from torrential rain in Syracuse whilst we waited for the ferry to Malta. I spoke no Italian, they spoke no English, but they were so lovely and generous with their time and food.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Jude 🙂 That sounds like a wonderful and very memorable experience. It proves that when you think a trip has been somewhat spoiled by something, such as torrential rain, something special can come out of it and turn into into the very opposite of spoiled!
Anonymous
The last comment was from me again, Sarah. The comment block letting me list email, website, etc. I should have ended the comment with my name attached. Sylvia/starship-vt
Anonymous
Sarah, although I’ve been to Sicily twice, I never got as close to Mt. Etna as you did! (Wasn’t there just some eruption from it and you luckily missed being there while it happened?) Randazzo looks like a charming place to visit. Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos as always!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Sylvia, and for adding the extra comment so I know it’s you! I have no idea why you should be blocked from including your email 😕 Yes, Etna erupted soon after our visit – in fact, just after the Malta meet when some other VTers were in Sicily for post-meets. But it didn’t affect them in any way other than some great views of the eruption, so I’m sorry in a way that we missed it 😀
Suzanne
Those stories from the locals are priceless and some of our best memories. The small cafe/restaurant looks welcoming and the food delicious.
Sarah Wilkie
We loved our time in that restaurant – great (and obviously home-style) cooking, friendly owners and a lovely atmosphere 🙂 It was a real find!
Egídio
Beautiful photos and wonderful info about the town. It’s so nice to walk around towns like that. One can smell history in the air.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the walk Egidio 🙂
margaret21
I’d have loved a stroll through this town with you … and sharing a meal, of course!
Sarah Wilkie
You would indeed, your sort of place for sure!
Anne Sandler
What a wonderful find Sarah. It is such a beautiful town and that meal……
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne 🙂 I really liked the town yet we only came on a whim after reading a brief description in an information folder at our B&B. It just shows how useful those folders can be when hosts provide them!
bushboy
Another interesting place with wonderful photos Sarah. The art look so good as bit that meal
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Brian, glad you enjoyed this 🙂
ThingsHelenLoves
What a beautiful place, that church interior is something. Funnily enough, I’m currently watching S2 of S.A.S: Rogue Heroes. A lot of the action takes place across Sicily, including some interesting scenes set in a church.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Helen 🙂 Yes, we watched that series and I thought of it while we were in Sicily as this was the region they were working their way up through, though I don’t know if they got as far north as Etna.
Sue
Thanks for my virtual tour of this place, which would appeal to me for the history and the architecture…. loved your peak into the cloisters!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Sue 🙂 Yes, I reckon you would like it here, and it was so quiet too!
Sue
😊😊
restlessjo
Definitely my kind of place; Sarah! That opening photo got me right away. I loved the cloisters and the pasta picture, and I quite like the lava stone buildings. I loved the rural ones on Pico in the Azores and the churches on Madeira are mostly made of dark stone. The restaurant looks like a great find. I always love old photos on the walls and often take photos of them, just for myself. No worries about the cake- me and food have a very difficult relationship at the moment. How did you find Giardini Naxos worked as a base? Were you sharing driving with another couple? Many thanks for a lovely link xx
Sarah Wilkie
So glad you enjoyed this Jo, though I’m sorry you’re not enjoying the food as much as usual. The B&B in Giardini Naxos was really good – simple but more than adequate rooms, stunning views, friendly owner and a massive breakfast 🙂 But it would be impossible without a car. I wasn’t driving at all, I confess – it’s not something I’d feel comfortable doing. I was travelling with four friends, two couples (Virtual Tourist friends from Yorkshire) and one half of each couple volunteered to drive, so we had two sharing. The second place we stayed, near Syracuse, was less rural but still needed a car, and was even lovelier!