Lascari between Coast and Cultural Heritage

Lascari brings together a hilly landscape, named coastal areas and a multifaceted local history. The differences between the beach, architecture, archive and local food culture give you several concrete points of reference to help you decide which themes you want to shape your stay.

Landscape and Coast

The town lies on a green ridge touched by the Colluzzo and Calcavecchio streams. The sea is about 2.5 kilometres away; the Lascari coastline extends for around three kilometres. Its points of reference include Salinelle, a sandy beach, and Gorgo Lungo, a seaside resort on the Tyrrhenian coast.

The two coastal areas are described differently: Salinelle is characterised as a sandy beach, while Gorgo Lungo is described as a seaside resort. At the beaches of Salinelle and Gorgo Lungo, you can swim, take long walks, watch the sunsets and relax. This puts specific beach activities at the heart of the experience, alongside views of the coast.

History, Church and Murals

The fortified Casale Santa Eufemia was founded in the 12th or 13th century. It served as a seasonal residence for the Aragonese rulers. Its history thus links the founding of a fortified settlement with its temporary use as a residence for rulers.

The Chiesa San Michele Arcangelo has a Latin-cross floor plan and three naves. The church also houses two large Baroque marble altarpieces made from multicoloured marble. They date from the late 17th or early 18th century and were made using the “marmi mischi” technique. The floor plan and naves describe the church’s layout; the altarpieces add an artisanal dimension to this perspective.

The murals also offer contrasting perspectives. “Piccolo” honours Giuseppe Di Matteo and all innocent victims of the Mafia. “La Comunità” uses local faces from the MuVi Lascari photo archive as symbols of collective identity. The subjects thus range from commemorating Mafia victims to representing community identity.

MuVi Lascari and the Archive

MuVi Lascari preserves archival documents and manuscripts dating from 1693 to the first half of the 20th century. In the “Storia e beni culturali” section, the museum has twelve themed rooms. MuVi regularly organises the exhibition “Lascari, percorsi storici e documentali”, dedicated to learning about and making use of the local archival collection. The rooms and exhibition approach the collection from different angles: through themed rooms and through the study of documents and how they can be used.

Local Cuisine and Communal Dining

Lascari’s cuisine combines garden produce, wild greens and flavours from the sea. Typical products include citrus fruit, lemons and high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Citrus cultivation, along with lemon and olive oil production, were once important agricultural activities. This distinguishes the products mentioned from the explicitly historical importance of producing them.

One communal tradition is the Tavolata di San Giuseppe, a shared meal held outdoors in Lascari. Around 500 seats are provided, and participants are served five of the seven traditional dishes. The Tavolata has been a communal tradition for around two decades. If you would like to combine your stay with this meal, check the dates before your trip.

Getting There and Planning Excursions

Lascari has a railway station on the Palermo–Messina line. AST also operates bus services to and from Lascari. If you plan to travel by train or bus, check the connections for your travel date.

From the Sant’Andrea hill, you can take in the full diversity of the Lascari area. Lascari is also considered a starting point for excursions into the heart of the Parco delle Madonie, whose area is about 30 kilometres away. Mentioned excursion destinations include Piano Zucchi and Piano Battaglia.

Discover more destinations: Ciminna, Montemaggiore Belsito, Trabia, Partinico, Montelepre, Mondello, Capaci, San Giuseppe Jato.

For the main travel overview: Palermo.