Randazzo (gro) The city of Randazzo on the northern slope of Mount Etna, almost 800 meters high, almost 11,000 inhabitants strong and seat of a bishop, is the volcanic city of Sicily par excellence. This is probably due not least to its “Chiesa Madre”, the Cathedral Di Santa Maria, which was built of dark lava stones and its light-colored limestone edges.
With its light limestone edges, it is a decorative sacred building from the 13th century. Earthly pleasures are nowadays however not far: In the square in front of the church, pastry chef Santo Musumeci awaits with “sugared dead legs” and almond confectionery. Randazzo can be reached from Catania and Taormina, and also from surrounding municipalities, by car, buses and especially the Circumetnea train convenient, cheap .
Three Christians.
Until the mid-16th century, there have been three Christian communities in Randazzo: a Greek Orthodox community (founded after 1300 by refugees from what is now Albania), a Latin community and a Lombard community (which was particularly attached to St. Ambrose). In the historic center of the city, therefore, one finds three parish churches: The already mentioned (Latin) Chiesa Madre, the (Greek) Chiesa die San Nicolo and the (Lombard) Chiesa di San Martino. The latter, according to “Baedeker”, has an “elegant campanile with twin and triple windows”.
Not far from the main crater of the largest volcano.
The Aetna is the highest , largest, the most powerful and most active volcano of the European continent. And Randazzo is only 15 kilometers away from the main crater of the mountain of fire. Nevertheless, the small town has survived all the eruptions of Etna of the past centuries, even if sometimes only by a hair’s breadth. No wonder the Randazzesi are convinced that respectful treatment of nature contributes significantly to being spared from its violent eruptions.
Greeted the lava flow with wine and cheese.
Typical of the attitude of the Randazzesi is that a few years ago a farmer near Randazzo did not curse an apparently inexorable approaching lava flow, but welcomed it with a white table, on it half a bottle of red wine and bread and cheese. And lo and behold: The lava flow froze 24 meters in front of the friendly set table and spared – once again – Randazzo, the beautiful town on the northern slope of Mount Etna.