Acireale, Italy skyline: the 12 most iconic buildings and best views in Acireale

frescoes by Pietro Paolo Vasta An oratory dedicated to Saint Sebastian, was founded by a fraternity, and had been erected during the 15th century at the present site where the church of Sant Antonio di Padova now stands. Saint Sebastian was a common source of veneration in italy as patron saint invoked for protection during the onslaught of the plague. When the city was spared from severe problems from the 1577 plague

This Cathedral is a must see. The surrounding area is gorgeous. Details are devine and the is brilliantly designed. Definitely a must of you are planning a wedding here in Sicily.

Very nice to see both inside and outside. There are the barocco style decorations from outside.

Huge church with a beatiful facade. There is a nice little park nearby.

Beautiful cathedral outside and inside!

Gear decoration inside and outside. It has many paintings that are described in English as well.

Love the church! Great place and perfect wedding locatioj

Formerly named 'Giardino Vittorio Emmanuele III'. Nice view. Park offers good places for a break. Aside from the main terrace there are Ovid's 'Acis and Galatea' (copy) and a kiosk ('Caffè Eden') in an Maghrebi architectural style.

A small dirty park. The view is beautiful, but there's too much noise from the road below to actually enjoy anything. No place to park.

Beautiful gardens with amazing views

Great place overviewing the sea. Not much else to do.

Amazing view from a terrace. Beautiful greenery. Mind the opening hours. In May 2022 it was 8.30 till 20.30.

Spectacular scene of the Mediterranean! Definitely recommend going here if you visit Achireale!!

Fantastic park with view of the sea

I highly recommend visiting this museum. It offers a fascinating experience, and Toddy, along with all the museum staff, provides outstanding service. Their kindness and professionalism stand out, particularly in the way they explain the history of the pupis, making it easy to imagine life in past times. This museum is definitely worth a visit. I give it 5 stars for its exceptional customer service. Toddy is a warm hospitality makes you feel at home, and his detailed and professional explanations enrich the experience. I am truly pleased to have visited this museum and to have gained such valuable historical knowledge.

My family and I were vacationing in Acireale and wanted to learn about the Sicilian Puppet culture. Wow did we find the best gem in Acireale to learn about this exceptional tradition! This was one of the highlights of our trip! The brothers, Gaetano and Giuseppe Grasso, opened up the theatre just for my family. They shared with us the history of puppets in Sicily, how this theatre was started by their father Turi Grasso in the 1960s. They gave a tutorial to my oldest daughter, 9 years old (my youngest 5-year-old was too shy), about how to decorate a shield that she actually got to take home with her. She was so proud of herself and loved learning with Giuseppe. Our visit ended with the two brothers performing an actual puppet show for us. I am forever grateful we got to experience this. Thank you so much Gaetano and Giuseppe for sharing your passion with us. We will cherish the memories forever!!

Small museum with free admission dedicated to the history of puppeteering in Sicily, having some beautifully crafted and vintage puppets are on display. We were given an interesting explanation by the kind and attentive museum curator whose words were directly translated to English via his phone, since we don't speak Italian. We learned couple of fascinating facts and details during the short guided tour, as the museum is comprised only by a couple of rooms. Regardlesa, we can highly recommend you visit this museum, especially if you have kids.

It is an amazing museum that explain the Pupi tradition and the guide was very good

Amazing! I visited the pupi museum of Palermo, but I like more this in Acireale. They have a great colection, with very big marionettes. The person that work there is a great guy. Thank you for explain so many informations.

The museum is sadly closed for renovations. came all the way from Catania to see it. probably closed until August

Wonderful place. Curator speaks no English but gets the message across. Real gem

(Translated by Google) A lava cave transformed into a Catholic church houses a life-size eighteenth-century nativity scene, of fine workmanship and very evocative. (Original) Una grotta lavica trasformata in chiesa cattolica, ospita un presepe settecentesco a dimensioni naturali, di pregiata fattura e molto suggestivo.

(Translated by Google) Unforgettable and Indescribable. You have to be present to understand the feeling. Works of art that make you feel unique emotions and sensations. (Original) Indimenticabile e Indescrivibile. Devi essere presente per capire la sensazione che si prova. Opere d'arte che ti fanno provare delle emozioni e sensazioni uniche.

(Translated by Google) (First pandemic) I can understand a free offering to the church, but I don't understand the request for money that the employee wanted to enter (I don't mention the sum requested for politeness)... we decided not to enter... too bad! (Original) (Prima pandemia) posso capire un'offerta libera alla chiesa, ma non capisco la richiesta di denaro che voleva l'addetto per entrare (non menziono la somma richiesta per educazione)... abbiamo deciso di non entrare... peccato!

(Translated by Google) It houses an eighteenth-century nativity scene which is a masterpiece (Original) Ospita un presepe settecentesco che è un capolavoro

(Translated by Google) the center of the city is the Piazza del Duomo, which is dedicated to the Annunciation and S. Venera. It is a work from the years 1597-1618, remodeled in the 18th century. The facade narrow between two bell towers with a conical spire covered with polychrome ceramic tiles. It is a Romanesque-Gothic work by Giovanni Battista Filippo Basile. The interior is in the shape of a Latin cross, with three naves divided by pillars and a dome. The vault of the central nave is frescoed by Giuseppe Sciuti. (Original) il centro della città è la piazza del Duomo, che è dedicato all'Annunciata e a S. Venera. E' opera degli anni 1597-1618, rimaneggiato nel '700. La facciata stretta fra due campanili con cuspide conica rivestita da embrici di ceramica policroma. E' opera romanico-gotica di Giovanni Battista Filippo Basile. L'interno è a croce latina, a tre navate divise da pilastri e cupola. La volta della navata mediana è affrescata da Giuseppe Sciuti.

(Translated by Google) The main square is ok. We just arrived at the finale of the carnival. Interesting event. (Original) Plac główny jest okey. Trafiliśmy akurat pod zaś finału karnawału. Ciekawa impreza.

(Translated by Google) Like every year, the Nivarata in Acireale is synonymous with goodness. You can taste excellent granitas and sorbets from Sicily and beyond. A great initiative that every year rewards the granita most appreciated by both visitors and the jury. (Original) Come ogni anno la Nivarata ad Acireale è sinonimo di bontà. Si possono degustare ottime granite e sorbetti provenienti dalla Sicilia e non solo. Bella iniziativa che ogni anno premia la granita più apprezzata sia dai visitatori che dalla giuria.

(Translated by Google) Beautiful square often used for events and demonstrations. The next one will be in mid-July, I recommend you participate. The Duomo is worth a visit. (Original) Bella piazza utilizzata spesso x eventi e manifestazioni. La prossima sarà a metà luglio,vi consiglio di partecipare. Da visitare il Duomo che merita.

(Translated by Google) There are two impressive baroque churches on Cathedral Square. The government buildings in the old palace are also worth seeing. The residential buildings opposite the churches, on the other hand, are not in good condition. But unfortunately this is common in Sicily. (Original) Am Domplatz stehen zwei imposante Barockkirchen. Sehenswert sind auch die Regierungsgebäude im alten Palais. Die Wohnhäuser gegenüber den Kirchen sind dagegen in keinem guten Zustand. Aber das ist auf Sizilien leider üblich.

(Translated by Google) Basilica to absolutely visit. (Original) Basilica da visitare assolutamente.

(Translated by Google) Main square where there are two wonderful Sicilian baroque churches and the town hall. Worth visiting (Original) Piazza principale dove insistono due meravigliose chiese barocche siciliane ed il municipio. Da visitare

Amazing experience and I would recommend it. Organization was easy, the story about pupi and marionette very interesting and the final show is the top. The professionality has been really appreciated. Looking forward to see a full show next time we will visit Sicily

We spent an amazing evening with the kids, we asked for an opportunity to see the museum and a show and they opened on Easter day. Amazing. This is really where you get to know the Sicilian popular culture and and big heart, it helps to understand their values. Tano and Pippo Grasso are fabulous hosts, they know everything about this art and tradition as they literally grew up with it. We could not recommend more for a great family night.

Important for who want know the Sicilian history through cantastorie

(Translated by Google) Turi Grasso's Opera dei Pupi in Acireale is a small, living marvel: a theater-museum steeped in artisanal tradition, where the exquisitely crafted puppet figures come to life thanks to the mastery of a passionate puppeteer. The show, featuring narration, dialogue, and reflection, engages both adults and children: a journey into the past that excites, inspires, and enchants. (Original) L’Opera dei Pupi di Turi Grasso ad Acireale è una piccola meraviglia vivente: un teatro-museo ricco di tradizione artigianale, dove le figure dei pupi, splendenti nella loro fattura, prendono vita grazie alla maestria di un puparo appassionato. Lo spettacolo, fatto di narrazione dialogata e riflessioni, coinvolge grandi e piccini: un salto nel passato che emoziona, ispira e incanta.

(Translated by Google) A unique, exciting, unmissable experience. Tano and his wife guided us in the precious art of Pupi and in the uniqueness of their family tradition with joy, passion, joy and enthusiasm. Unforgettable. (Original) Un'esperienza unica, emozionante, imperdibile. Tano e sua moglie ci hanno guidati nella preziosa arte dei Pupi e nell'unicità della loro tradizione familiare con allegria, passione, gioia, entusiasmo. Indimenticabile.

(Translated by Google) Entering the Turi Grasso Puppet Opera Theater you lose track of time amidst the puppeteer's masterful tales enriched with philosophical insights and bitter reflections on today's society, which has learned little in over 1000 years... We had a unique family experience (2 adults + 2 children aged 7 and 8). A little more than an hour in which in a nice mix of Italian and dialect we understood the main differences between puppets, marionettes and marionettes. The children worked on a shield, went on stage to learn some of the secrets of the puppeteer's work... all strictly 'live'. (Original) Entrando nel Teatro dell'Opera dei Pupi di Turi Grasso si perde la cognizione del tempo tra i racconti magistrali del puparo arricchiti da spunti filosofici e riflessioni amare sulla società di oggi, che poco ha imparato in oltre 1000 anni...Abbiamo fatto un'esperienza familiare (2 adulti + 2 bambini 7 e 8 anni) unica. Un po' più di un'ora in cui in un simpatico mix di italiano e dialetto abbiamo compreso le principali differenze tra pupi, marionette e burattini. I bimbi hanno lavorato ad uno scudo, sono saliti sul palcoscenico per carpire alcuni dei segreti del lavoro del puparo....tutto rigorosamente in 'presa diretta'.

(Translated by Google) Be careful, the place and the people of this puppet theater can cause side effects: amazement, hilarity, tears of emotion, unlimited esteem and much more. Compliments! (Original) Attenzione, il luogo e le persone di questo teatro dei pupi possono causare effetti collaterali: stupore, ilarità, lacrime di emozione, stima illimitata e tanto altro. Complimenti!

(Translated by Google) A leap into history (Original) Un salto nella storia

The Cathedral of Acireale is a beautiful example of Sicilian gothic and it is located in the Piazza Duomo. You can climb up to the bell tower, where you can have a nice overview of the surrounding area. The paintings may look a bit dark, but if have the possibility to enlight them with just one coin. There's a nice example of sundial near the altar. Definitely to be visited if you are in the area.

The church is beautiful 🤩 2.50€ to climb the 80 steps to the tower above. 1 € for children. The inside is large.

This church is on one side of the main square. The façade is in the Sicilian baroque style. Unfortunately it wasn't open when we passed by on a Friday lunchtime in early May. Apparently there's a sundial inside and the frescoes are very nice. People say the decoration is pious and ornate . They are full of admiration looking down the central nave from above, which you pay for. You can on the same ticket go up the bell tower. Carnival passes by here. Follow the IG link in profile for more travel and food and drink tips, ideas and reviews!

Beautiful! Gorgeous inside and you can walk to the top of the tower. Worth a visit!

Stunning small town landmark. The cathedral is beautiful, and whole town of Acireale is worth visiting if you are in Catania area.

Really beautiful, there is even the bones of Saint Clemente inside

Stunning, don't miss it if you happen to be in this area.

Completely useless.