Adrano is deeply embedded in Mount Etna. So deeply embedded that even its name (from the Sican word àdron) means “black,” due to the volcanic rock landscapes surrounding the town. Its territory, located on the volcano’s southwestern flank, extends to the summit craters and includes part of the Simeto River. Spectacular nature unfolds around this medieval town (population 33,000) and its rich history. Because of the perspective, from the center of Adrano, the peak of Etna appears enormous and very close… and every eruption from here is a breathtaking sight!

History of Adrano

Although it has existed since ancient times, like many Sicilian towns, Adrano also experienced development and prosperity thanks to the conquest of the Greeks. “Adernon“ arose from a military fort dating back to 400 BC, some ruins of which remain today. It became a real city under Roman rule two centuries later.

Adrano’s undisputed glory, however, came in the 10th century when the Normans entered Sicily, having reconquered it and wrested it from Islamic influence. The leader Hugh of Jersey entered the city with his troops and built a fortified tower to defend the town. That tower, a lava stone keep, still exists today and stands intact in the center of the main square. Thanks to the protection of the noble families who succeeded one another in the fiefdom, Adrano became one of the most important places in the Etna area. It was the Princes Moncada and then the Ventimiglias—between the 15th and 16th centuries—who completed the growth of the fiefdom, which, until 1867, was one of the most modern and wealthy in Sicily.

Adrano entered the 20th century with few inhabitants and much wealth and, after a period of decline, began to gain attention and popularity again starting in the mid-1990s. In 2019, it officially acquired the title of “city,” with its own coat of arms depicting an eagle and a tripartite oval shield, supported by two cornucopias, depicting a snow-capped and erupting Mount Etna, a bird of prey, and a crab.

When you shall visit Adrano

The ideal time to explore Adrano is the “middle” seasons. In spring, with the surrounding valleys rich in greenery and crops, as well as in autumn, with its warm colors and cool climate, you can take pleasant guided tours of the historic center. Also go for interesting hikes into the nature that characterizes the municipality, climbing all the way to the top of Mount Etna!

What to see in Adrano and the surrounding area

A visit to Adrano must begin in Piazza Umberto I, bisected by the central Via Roma. Here, the medieval donjon (known as the “Norman castle”), the main church of Maria Assunta, and the town hall Palace dei Bianchi are all within walking distance. A few meters away are the New Town Hall and the Town Park.

The history of the main church is fascinating. Built between the 16th and 18th centuries, it was originally designed with a lava stone bell

tower in plan, but it remained incomplete—and today the supporting columns of its base stand in front of the church entrance. The interior of the church, in a Latin cross plan, is divided into three naves supported by ancient columns that, it is said, were once part of a pagan temple dedicated to the god Adernon! The many 18th and 19th-century works of art enrich the temple with style and color. It seems that the church is connected to the medieval castle via underground tunnels! Today, the castle houses the Adrano Archaeological Museum.
Other monuments in Adrano’s historic center include: the Monastery of Santa Lucia, built in 1596 based on a design by Stefano Ittar and the Prince of Biscari. It includes a church with a three-tiered façade surmounted by two bell towers with quadrangular domes connected by a Baroque balcony, and a large central body with the monks’ cells that runs along Via Roma; the Church of San Pietro; the Church of the Crucifix; the churches of San Giuseppe, San Leonardo, Gesù e Maria, and del Salvatore; the Ciancio, Pisano, and Pulia palaces; and the Bellini Theater.

Around the town center, you can visit interesting sites such as the Mendolito archaeological site, the ancient Dionysian Walls, the Solicchiata Castle, and the Saracen Bridge, which spans the gorges of the Simeto River near the Salto del Pecoraio district. Not far from the city lies the romantic Valley of the Muses, which actually owes its name to Musah, the powerful Arab emir who ruled Adrano before the arrival of the Norman knights!

Getting There

Adrano is 35 km from Catania, less than an hour’s drive, and about 40 km from Fontanarossa Airport. The city can be easily reached by driving along the SS121 and SS284 state roads. If you’re arriving from the port of Messina (129 km), you can take the A18 motorway to Catania, then take the Tangenziale (ring road) and exit at Misterbianco. Follow the signs for Paternò and Adrano, taking the SS284, which circles Mount Etna with spectacular views! (PHOTOS BY ANTONIETTA BUA)