Motta Sant'Anastasia is a village rich in history whose roots date back to the XNUMXth century BC with the arrival of the Greeks and Romans.
Motta Sant'Anastasia is a Sicilian town located 275 meters above sea level in the Metropolitan City of Catania, currently populated by about 12.000 people.
As often happens in successful cities, geography favors history, placing the conformation of the land where the center stands at the service of the history of the village itself: here, at slopes of Etna, and a few kilometers from Catania, the village was favored for its strategic position, an aspect of great importance from a military point of view. Motta Sant'Anastasia stands on top of a cliff.
The origins of the medieval village of Motta Sant'Anastasia
The roots of the village go back to antiquity: in the XNUMXth and XNUMXth century BC on the territory of Simeto Valley the Greeks had arrived; even the ancient Romans left their testimony on the spot, made up of coins and mosaics, found during the archaeological excavations of the last century.
According to scholars, the name of the village, Motta Sant'Anastasia, would have a common root, even if the two terms that compose it date back to different eras. The reference is always to the cliff and the hill on which the village stands.
Around the sixteenth century we have the first evidence of a village built in Motta Sant'Anastasia according to the modern conception of inhabited center, a village which later became a fiefdom, up to the nineteenth century, when between streets, districts and squares, Motta Sant'Anastasia acquired the appearance with which we know it today.
Motta Sant'Anastasia and the history of the Neck
We often read, or hear, that Motta Sant'Anastasia was built on the Neck. But what exactly does that mean? The neck is a cliff that originated from avulcanic eruption. In particular, the one on which Motta Sant'Anastasia stands originated 550.000 years ago. The rock that is created in the volcanic cone is basaltic and in fact this type of rock is easily found in the buildings of the place.
What to see in Motta Sant'Anastasia, in the historic center and in the surroundings
Il symbol of Motta Sant'Anastasia is the Dungeon. It is a military-type monument, i.e. a watchtower built in 1074, at the time of Roger the Norman. The keep is a rectangular plan building, of significant dimensions: its height reaches 21 meters, a not indifferent example for the architecture of the medieval era. The top of the tower has the typical medieval battlements, while the legendary loopholes open up along the entire height of the tower, from which the defense started in case of enemy attack.
This historic structure, which has now become a symbol of the town, also houses some particularly interesting curiosities: it is said that in the tower he was locked up Bernardo Cabrera, Count of Modica; another piece of technical information, certainly particular, concerns the structure of the tower itself, struck by lightning in 2010. The battlements were promptly restored.
Continue the tour in the village and then set off to explore the surroundings: the village is just 12 km from Catania and reaching the Sicilian capital is easy. In Catania you can admire artistic and architectural beauties such as the Duomo, the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, the Historical Museum of the Landing in Sicily 1943.
From Motta Sant'Anastasia, the Etna park, where trekking and nature enthusiasts can go for long walks and birdwatching, to discover the local flora and fauna. Even for the little ones it is a recommended destination, because the Etnaland Amusement Park, with its swimming pools and theme rides, will be able to capture all the attention of children, thanks to the presence of "dinosaurs". The theme park is only 7,8 km from Motta Sant'Anastasia.
Tradition at the table
Motta Sant'Anastasia, like every village in Sicily, has its own culinary traditions, with delicious dishes. Around here, the Catania cuisine she rules it. Let's start with street food: arancini, onions, bolognesi, pizzas, crispelle and paté-based condiments are succulent appetizers to start a lunch or dinner to remember. The dish par excellence in the province of Catania is pasta alla Norma, to be tried together with maccu, spelled puree, or caponata. The meal inevitably ends with a delicious Sicilian cannoli, or, optionally, with the cassatelle di Sant'Agata.
How to get to Motta Sant'Anastasia
Motta Sant'Anastasia, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, can be easily reached by car or train.
Who prefers to travel by car, taking the A19 Palermo-Catania, you can take the exit for Motta Sant'Anastasia, just 6 km from the centre; who travels on the train, can instead get off at Catania Central Station, which is located 11 km from the centre; at the station, travelers can take the bus or shuttle to get to the town.
© Image by BenjyAnimationz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
