Naro: Heritage and Views

Naro combines an elevated setting, a medieval townscape and a rich cultural heritage. If you are looking for a hotel in Naro, the views and variety of historic sites can help guide your choice of destination.

Townscape and views

Naro developed into a densely built medieval village stretching along the crest of a low hill. It stands out clearly from the surrounding countryside. Its elevated position offers views as far as Mount Etna and the Madonie Mountains, as well as the sea near Licata and Sciacca. These named destinations give an idea of how far the view extends beyond the immediate surroundings.

Sacred art and culture

The Chiesa di Maria Santissima Annunziata is also known as the Chiesa Madre of Naro. Its construction began in 1619 at the initiative of the Society of Jesus. The church houses the 16th-century marble sculpture Madonna della Catena. The building’s history and the artwork each provide a distinct historical context for a visit: the church reflects a 17th-century building initiative, while the sculpture is an older work of art.

The Museo dell'Arte Grafica is housed in Palazzo Malfitano. It adds another cultural destination in Naro alongside the religious and archaeological sites.

San Calogero: Viewing terrace and underground church

The Santuario di S. Calogero stands on a viewing terrace on the southeastern edge of Naro. The underground church of San Calogero houses a black statue of the saint dating from the 16th century. It also serves as a reliquary for his upper arm bone. A grotto of the saint, carved into the tuff, is also integrated into a side wall of the church. The statue, reliquary and grotto bring together art, religious devotion and the distinctive design of the underground space.

The necropolis of Contrada Canale

The archaeological area of Contrada Canale comprises a necropolis with four hypogea. Each is arranged around a long central corridor running from north to south. This recurring layout makes the spatial arrangement of the necropolis easier to understand. The largest hypogeum is known as the Grotta delle Meraviglie.

African oil lamps were found in Hypogeum B. Their discs are decorated with Christian symbols, including the lamb, the tree of life and the fish. These motifs provide concrete examples of the imagery found among the archaeological finds. Ceramic objects from the hypogea provided clues for dating the necropolis and attest to the importance of the Naro area in late antiquity. At Contrada Canale, the layout of the tombs and the evidence provided by the archaeological finds can thus be considered side by side.

Castello Chiaramonte and the Leonardo exhibition

Castello Chiaramonte is municipally owned and is currently used as an exhibition space for exhibitions and art events. The permanent exhibition Il genio di Leonardo displays around 70 scale or life-size models of Leonardo’s machines. Visitors can operate the models and observe how they work. This makes the exhibition different from a presentation focused solely on viewing the objects. As the program may change, check in advance which exhibitions and art events will be taking place during your visit.

Visitor information

The Antico Duomo Normanno can only be viewed from the outside. If you plan to visit, check the current access conditions beforehand.

Discover more destinations: Burgio, Castrofilippo, Grotte, Contrada Fiori Sud, Ribera, Villaggio Pirandello, Borsellino, Menfi

For the overview of the wider area: Agrigento.