Easter Monday – “Pasquetta” in Italian – is a ritual dedicated to nature and rest. It is celebrated without any particular rules but purely by popular tradition, inviting people to recharge their batteries by strolling through the woods, on the beaches, and in the historic centers of the most beautiful cities. In short, it’s a sort of “collective celebration” in order to welcome spring and… why not!… even digest the sumptuous Easter lunches. If you are a foreigner, indulge in a “Pasquetta trip” to Mount Etna or its immediate surroundings. Any ideas? Here they are!
Picnic in a Suburban Park
Do you prefer a family outing, perhaps with ten people and with children and pets as a group? Then an Easter Monday picnic is ideal for you. Typically, nearby destinations are preferred, which don’t involve long journeys (and traffic jams). The best choice in this case are “suburban parks”, that is those wild green spaces regulated by gates, opening hours, and municipal laws; small corners of unspoiled nature near the city center, or even within it. There are several in the Etna area.
The Nicolosi Pine Forest, for example: it grows on ancient, now extinct eruptive craters, protected by controlled access. Here, paths ascend and descend the hillsides, always shaded by the trees, offering moments of relaxation in the cool. The Scarbaglio Park, in Milo, is a section of a century-old woodland enclosed by gates: inside, in addition to equipped areas, there is also an adventure trail with ropes, ladders, and suspension bridges among the tall pine trees. Also consider the brand new Bosco di Aci, a suburban park in the municipality of Aci St. Antonio (in the hamlet of Santa Maria la Stella): with three entrances, the park offers some well-maintained areas, with paths and flowerbeds, and other parts left to the wild.
Discovering Etna’s Woods
The traditional “Pasquetta” of the Etna people includes a trip to the woods of our great volcano. A picnic or even just a walk in the Linguaglossa pine forest, along the Ragabo and Brunek trails, or a stop for the children to play in the Clan dei Ragazzi woods guarantee hours of serenity in nature. The Clan dei Ragazzi is a fenced-in woodland, with free access. The Ragabo and Burnek trails are open paths through open woods, without boundaries.
Most of Etna’s woods are located on the north slope, but you can also find beautiful natural spots to the east (the Ilice Carrinu trail) or to the south (Piano del Vescovo, Piano Vetore, and Bosco Filiciusa-Milìa).
In the surrounding area…
A proper “Pasquetta” trip certainly includes a bit of seaside time. On this day, in fact, we reacquaint ourselves with the beaches abandoned all winter. Near Mount Etna, many people choose San Marco beach, adorned with dense eucalyptus forests and the mouths of the Fiumefreddo River and the Alcantara River.
Speaking of Alcantara, a trip to the famous “gorges” is a must on Easter Monday. And if you don’t want to follow the paid tourist route, go to Castiglione… to the site of the ancient church known as “La Cuba”… where you’ll find the Alcantara river before it jumps into the canyon, in an area where it still flows through the plains and into small natural pools.
Another great idea is to explore Lake Lentini. This body of water located between Catania and Syracuse is a protected nature reserve, especially famous for birdwatching enthusiasts. A nature walk is also recommended at the mouth of the Simeto River, in the Catania plain.
Easter Monday in the city
If you prefer to stay in the towns and admire the beauty created by man, your ideal “Pasquetta” could be in the medieval towns of Etna (Randazzo, Bronte, Adrano, Paternò), or discovering the baroque architecture of Acireale, or even in Castiglione, Savoca, or Forza d’Agrò to look out from the panoramic terraces and admire Etna and its valleys. You could also venture to Brucoli (on the Syracuse coast) or Nicosia, in the Enna province, to discover small towns full of charm.
Remember, however, that on Easter Monday, museums and churches are always closed: so the beauty can only be admired… from the outside! (PHOTOS BY G. MUSUMECI)