Discover Scordia

Scordia brings together urban history, church art, religious festivals, and a long-standing food culture. The Museo Civico Etno-Antropologico e Archivio Storico “Mario De Mauro,” several churches, and recurring celebrations give the town a range of cultural highlights. Scacciata Scordiense is also part of this picture. If you are looking for a hotel in Scordia, these themes can help you plan your trip.

Everyday history at the Museo Civico

The Museo Civico Etno-Antropologico e Archivio Storico “Mario De Mauro” displays a historical collection of objects from rural life and the everyday lives of the people of Sicily. The collection thus offers a glimpse into both agricultural ways of life and everyday life in Sicily. The museum entrance is on the ground floor of the Palazzo vecchio Majorana. If a museum visit is part of your plans, it is advisable to check the current opening hours in advance.

Churches and works of art

The Chiesa di San Giuseppe is in the town center. The neoclassical church was built in several phases over the course of the 19th century. Its furnishings include wooden sculptures and paintings. Some of the paintings are by Giuseppe Barchitta (1874–1959), a painter from Scordia. These include the Madonna degli Ammalati and a Sacra Famiglia. The architecture and artworks offer different ways to explore Scordia’s religious and artistic heritage.

The Chiesa Sant’Antonio was built in 1644 at the initiative of Antonio Branciforte, Prince of Scordia. The church houses a life-size wooden statue of the Cristo alla Colonna, dating from 1739. There are 95 years between the construction of the church and the year given for the statue. On the evening of Holy Wednesday, the statue is carried in a solemn procession. The church and the artwork point to different periods in local history; the procession also connects the statue with the observance of Holy Week.

Festivals with their own dates and traditions

The Festa di San Giuseppe on March 19 marks the beginning of Scordia’s cycle of spring festivals. The celebration includes a procession of richly decorated horses bringing offerings to the Holy Family. The event combines a fixed calendar date with a distinctive religious custom. Another procession takes place on the evening of Holy Wednesday, when the statue of the Cristo alla Colonna is carried. The two traditions differ both in timing and in the subject at the center of each.

San Rocco is also associated with an annual procession. The centuries-old wooden statue of San Rocco is carried every year on August 16. Together with the festival on March 19 and the procession during Holy Week, this date is another landmark in Scordia’s religious celebrations. When planning your trip, it is useful to distinguish between the fixed dates of March 19 and August 16 and the date tied to Holy Wednesday. Check current event dates before planning a trip specifically to attend a festival.

The Chiesa Madre di San Rocco has its own history, shaped by destruction and reconstruction. It was built in 1628 and completely destroyed by the 1693 earthquake. It was subsequently rebuilt and reopened for worship in 1712. This sequence highlights the church’s eventful architectural history and adds a historical perspective on Scordia’s religious buildings to the procession tradition.

Scacciata Scordiense and food culture

Scacciata Scordiense is also part of Scordia’s cultural heritage. It originated as a peasant dish for the poor and has been part of the town’s food culture for more than 300 years, especially during festival times. It is therefore not just a local dish, but part of a long-standing tradition. While the museum displays objects from rural life and everyday life, Scacciata connects local food culture with the history of simple peasant cooking. Its particular importance during festival times also links it to the town’s religious celebrations.

Scordia’s cultural themes range from a historical collection and church architecture to artworks, processions, and a long-standing food tradition. When choosing your travel dates, you can decide whether a particular festival is especially important to you or whether you would rather focus on the town’s history and cultural sites. Discover more destinations: Piedimonte Etneo, Sant'agata Li Battiati, Belpasso, Presa, Pozzillo, Gravina di Catania, Linera, Viagrande.

For the broader travel overview: Catania.