Aci Sant'Antonio

Aci Sant'Antonio is a small town of about 18,000 people on Etna's lower eastern slopes, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, a short drive from the Ionian coast. It's one of several "Aci" towns scattered across this volcanic landscape, having split off administratively in 1826 from the older Aci Superiore territory, and it still includes four outlying frazioni: Santa Maria la Stella, Lavinaio, Monterosso Etneo, and Lavina.

The town calls itself the "Città del Carretto Siciliano," and this isn't just a slogan — it hosts a genuine Museo del Carretto Siciliano displaying hand-painted traditional Sicilian carts, and continues to support the craft through workshops and an annual prize. It's a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in this distinctly Sicilian folk art form.

The parish church of Sant'Antonio Abate dominates Piazza Maggiore, a basilica with sixteenth-century roots rebuilt after the devastating 1693 earthquake, its interior decorated by the Vasta brothers and housing a museum of liturgical art. The town's patron saint is honored every January 17th with a procession, blessing of animals, and towering ceremonial candelore carried through the streets — a tradition documented since at least 1563.

Beyond the historic center, the surrounding countryside bears the marks of Etna's long volcanic history, with lava flows having shaped the terrain around frazioni like Santa Maria la Stella. This is a place for travelers drawn to authentic small-town Sicilian life rather than major tourist sites.