Vizzini

Vizzini lies at about 600 meters above sea level near the source of the Dirillo and Acate rivers on the Castello, Maddalena and Calvario hills which form part of the Iblei Mountains. It is one of the oldest towns in Sicily. The first information about it dates back to the late Bronze Age as witnessed by finds in the ‘Three Channels’ quarter which can now be seen in the Paolo Orsi Museum in Siracusa. After the Greeks and Romans, it was ruled by the Byzantines and then the Arabs.

Vizzini’s particular charm comes from the fact that its old town centre remains unchanged. Palazzo Verga and the Town Hall overlook the central Piazza Umberto I, with next to them the Salita Marineo, a long stairway whose risers are decorated with geometric and floral patterned tiles with views of palaces in Vizzini at the centre of each medallion.
The Mother Church, dedicated to San Gregorio, still conserves part of the original construction, a Gothic-Norman portal, which survived the 1693 earthquake. The building is in a mixture of styles. The interior is divided into three naves, with an octagonal layout and ogive arches. Visitors can admire two splendid paintings by Filippo Paladini dating from the beginning of the 1600s which represent the Martyrdom of San Lorenzo and the Madonna della Mercede. Near the Mother Church is the Basilica of San Vito under the title of the Spirito Santo. The church is in Late Baroque style with Renaissance reminders and offers the visitor a carved wooden Crucifix, a chapel richly decorated with neoclassical style stuccoes and a reliquary. The church of St. Agata, built around the 14th century, was rebuilt in the 18th century. It was originally dedicated to San Pietro. Inside there is an altar piece of the Martyrdom of St. Agata and a Baroque Chapel dedicated to the Sacrament.

The ‘Immaginario Verghiano’ Museum is hosted in an 18th century palace in the town centre. The heart of the Museum is the permanent exhibition of photographs by Giovanni Verga, enriched by a series of heirlooms many of which connected with the photographic equipment that the writer used. There is also a section dedicated to a collection of photos of the film sets inspired by Verga’s works, while the section entitled ‘Archives of the Memory’ collects interesting photographic material regarding places and people in Verga’s world, from the 1920s through to the second half of the 20th century. The remains of the ‘Cunziria’ (tannery), houses and factories where Verga set his ‘Cavelleria Rusticana’ can be seen in the Masera quarter.

Vizzini’s typical product par excellence is its fresh ricotta. Over the course of the years the area has specialised in the breeding of dairy animals and producing many types of cheese, ranging from fresh cheeses through to very mature.

Courtesy of the Provincia Regionale di Catania