Pagliara, in the province of Messina, with its hamlet Locadi, can be considered the smallest in Italy. This curious record, however, must not be the only reason why you visit this village which is actually full of many other places of interest, which can fascinate a very varied audience.
For those interested in organizing a tour in these parts, here is all the information that may be useful for visiting Pagliara in Messina.
The history of Locadi, a hamlet of Pagliara
When we talk about the smallest hamlet in Italy we are actually not referring to Pagliara but to Locadi, which is precisely one of its hamlets. This very small village in 1928 was even a municipality in itself and had 445 inhabitants, however the authorities considered it too small a number, so it was decided to downgrade it to a hamlet and in 1938 Locadi was placed under the control of Pagliara. Unfortunately, over the centuries the village was affected by a process of emigration, so the population gradually decreased until it reached 15 inhabitants today, a number that makes it the smallest fraction in Italy.
What to see in Locadi, a hamlet of Pagliara Messina
Despite being such a small hamlet, Locadi amazes its visitors with many monuments that have a centuries-old history, given that the area was inhabited since Middle Ages. Among the monuments not to be missed is the Mother Church of San Giovanni, which is the most important one, but also the one dedicated to Santa Caterina which houses two sacred paintings inside, one from the eighteenth century and the other from the nineteenth century, as well as a beautiful wooden crucifix from the same year. It is also worth a visit Sollima Tower, a sixteenth-century tower built to spot the arrival of enemies from the valley. It is one of the oldest squares in the village Piazza San Giovanni of which, however, today only ruins remain. Finally, going further down the valley you can visit an ancient mill which is evidence of the main productive activity that has characterized this area since ancient times.
What to do in Locadi di Pagliara
Those who decide to come to Locadi di Pagliara do so essentially because they are attracted by the evocative charm of this small, partly decadent village, which branches off uphill, one alley after another. The village has no shops or restaurants, so at sunset it is a destination for couples looking for a suggestive viewpoint from which to admire the setting sun. The situation changes slightly in the summer, when many natives return to Locadi who over the years have moved to other areas of Italy and Europe to look for work but have maintained a close bond with the village.
The events of Pagliara
Among the most important events in Locadi there is the Bread Festival which is a food and wine event that aims to celebrate one of the most typical productions of the area such as white art. Another very important moment is the one dedicated to Patron Saint day, That is Saint John, for which a solemn celebration is organized with relative procession to bring the statue of the saint in triumph. The highlight of the patronal festival in Locadi is certainly the healing mass, to protect all the sick, but also the more folkloristic part linked to food and wine and local crafts.
What to see in the surroundings of Pagliara Messina
After taking a walk in Locadi, you can take advantage of the time you have available to discover the beauties found in the surrounding area, particularly in Pagliara, which still retains its ancient architectural structure intact. Of notable beauty, for example, they are Allegra Palace e Calabrò Palace which were built in the nineteenth century for local noble families. In Via delle Carceri, however, as the name itself suggests, you can admire the remains of the ancient prison which had been in operation since the sixteenth century, while a little further on you can visit the San Sebastian church. Finally, it is worth mentioning the presence of a Guinness maritime pine since he's tall 25 meters.
How to get to Pagliara
To reach the village of Pagliara and discover all its beauties, it is possible to move with theauto from Messina, first taking the A18 and then the E45, the same road that those coming from Catania must also take. For visitors arriving from both Palermo and Trapani, however, the road to take is the A20 and follow the E90 while from Syracuse it is only necessary to follow the E45.
The locality can also be reached on the train, only that the reference station is that of Roccalumera since Pagliara does not have its own. It is then possible to continue the journey with the local buses made available by the AST company.
Maria Massaro, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
