Things to do in Assoro – Three magnificent churches

Last Updated on 7 August 2024

Introduction

In this article you will find out what to see in Assoro. The town has Greco-Roman origins and was occupied in the 10th century by the Arabs, who built a fortress (of which, however, few ruins remain) and then by the Normans. The medieval town is located at a height of 850 meters from the sea, on the Erei mountains, and has about 5000 inhabitants. THE monuments not to be missed in this medieval village are four, three churches and the castle. Few but really fascinating. Let’s find out in detail what to see in Assoro.

What to see in Assoro

Basilica of San Leone

The basilica of S. Leone was built in the twelfth century and like the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, it preserves the wonderful internal decorations that here are mainly in marble and wood. It is inserted among other things in a beautiful architectural context with the panoramic Umberto I square nearby.

Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli and convent

This church and the adjoining convent have been recently restored. They were built in 1622 by the Franciscan Fathers . Even before entering, the beauty of the staircase and the stone walls, which accompany you to the entrance of the church, is striking. But what really dazzles are above all the interiors , especially the church, where you can admire splendid Baroque paintings.

Church of the Holy Spirit

The church of the Spirito Santo, built in the 13th century and recently restored, is also very beautiful. The interiors are not as beautiful as the other two churches, but the façade is certainly of great value .

The ruins of the Assoro castle

Few ruins remain of the Norman castle of Assoro (from around 1200), only one tower out of four remains standing, but from here there is a beautiful view . In fact, you can see the Pozzillo lake and clearly also the Etna . The last to reside in the castle were the Barons of Valguarnera, after which unfortunately it fell into abandonment.

Curiosity: In the castle, signs of a writing consisting of oblique lines called glittography were found, a sign that the castle was built on a much older fortress.

Interactive map of Assoro – Points of interest in purple

To locate yourself once in the area, click on the enlarge symbol at the top right of the map.

Most popular activities for tourists in Sicily

What to see around Assoro

Assoro is part of the province of Enna. Here you find the most beautiful places to visit around Enna .

Typical dishes of Assoro and surroundings

Assoro is located as mentioned before, in the province of Enna. Do you want to try the typical dishes in the Ennese area? Here I wrote an article on what to eat in Enna and surroundings.

Here instead you find the typical Sicilian dishes in general.