RED RIDING HOOD

Located about 11 kilometres north of Catania, it is the perfect little commune to visit during the ottobrata – the local festivity that occurs every October here in Sicily, celebrating the fruits of the land: frutti di terra.

The first encounter went wrong already 🙂 Approaching the booth with fruit, I have noticed quince – one of the symbolic fruits of the late summer/ early autumn. I was triggered by my childhood memories so I took one in my hand and smelled it. My plan was ti buy the one that smells the best and traditionally, put it on the top of my wardrobe – as the grandmothers would do. Instead of that, the vendor started to warn me that this is not a lemon.

I rolled with my eyes to my Captain Obvious and went further. Sicilians like to think that only here and only them. Nobody else. As if quince would ever grow in the rest of the world. =.=

I continued to discover further. I noticed the traditional ornaments that made me think of the wood technique. And yes Sicilians, we have them too in Croatia.

There was a local grill that smelled nice, accompanied, of course with lots of trash of the guests. I guess you take something good, you take something bad here in Sicily. Only in Sicily. Or maybe is the same in the rest of the world, too? Nah, must be only in Sicily.

But I decided to go for the real deal, the reason why I am here. The tree castagni, or should I translate into three maroons. 🙂 As I observed, they are baked in tall pots. Not sure why this technique but they were a real treat! 🙂 Only in Sicily.

Eating one of my favourite season food, I have noticed in the far distance the old mulino a vento (wind mill), but without the wings. It is a round tower built with the remains of a Roman pre-existence, erected as a watchtower against pirate invasions or even during the Islamic conquest of Sicily. It is believed that the adaptation to a mill with grindstone dates back to the Norman domination. The mill was famous for not being very productive. Only in Sicily.

After my treat I made a small passeggiata. I have discovered the Chiesa Santa Maria della Misericordia dei Bianchi (from 16th century). I couldn’t enter though, but even from the outside I was impressed. A secondary church with such a beautiful facade.

Then particular were the facades. Dilapidated, with history and stories. I wondered what class of people lived here? During which time it reached its peak?

But the Etna remained still. Not revealing me the secret at all. Yet, the Trecastagnese territory, being on the slopes of Etna and being one of the municipalities on the border between the inhabited continuum of the metropolitan area of Catania and the territory of the Etna Park, is largely undeveloped, and therefore rich in naturalistic attractions.