It is known for the presence of a considerable work of the artistic heritage of Calabria: the castle of San Niceto. Through a guided tour you will learn about its history and explore the ruins of the fortress. It dates back to the Byzantine period and it’s a rare example of early medieval architecture in Calabria.T oday you can see the walls, two square towers near the entrance and other structures. This is also a place of extraordinary natural beauty, with breathtaking views of the Strait of Messina and the Mount Etna.
Going back towards the higher part of Motta we will arrive at the area of Colle Leandro, where there is the Sanctuary of the SS. Assumption of Leandro. This is an ancient place of worship and has Byzantine origin, today is the destination of many pilgrims.
The lunch break will give the opportunity to taste the local cuisine, which originates from the Mediterranean cuisine. It offers a wide variety of dishes, as the fresh pasta "Maccarruni" , pork, cheese, as well as the cuisine based on seafood, widespread especially in the coast. The local red wine called "Nereddu" is well know. Later, visiting the Agriarti Cooperative you can watch the production processes of typical liqueurs and jams, with the opportunity to taste some products.
Motta San Giovanni is also known as the "land of miners" for the large number of emigrant workers employed in this activity in the past. Today is known for the stone working of the so-called "Pietra di Lazzaro"(Stone of Lazzaro). The village is perched on a hill, walking through the historic centre of Motta San Giovanni we will visit the Miners Park and some churches. The streets are very characteristic because of some houses built directly on the rock.
Returning to the coast, you can walk on the promenade of Lazzaro and even go to the beach, before visiting the promontory of Capo d’Armi, known in the past as Leucopetra (Greek word which means “White Stone”). It is a rocky cliff rising sheer from the sea and provides stunning view of the coastline.
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