Ferla: Churches, Festivals and the Hyblaean Landscape

Ferla brings together churches with distinctive architecture and art, festivals held on different dates, and a Hyblaean landscape shaped by olive and carob trees, almond trees, vineyards and dry-stone walls. If you’re looking for a hotel in Ferla, you can plan your stay around these interests: architecture and art, a particular festival date or routes through the Monti Iblei. The following pointers can help you weigh up your interests and travel dates.

Churches and art in Ferla

The Chiesa della Madonna del Carmine dates back to the 18th century and was built at the beginning of the new town layout. Its design follows a type common in eastern Sicily and particularly widespread in the towns of the Iblei. The tower-like façade is divided into two architectural orders: Doric and Ionic. This church offers a chance to see both a regional design that was widely adopted and the façade’s clear divisions.

The Chiesa di Sant’Antonio makes a different architectural statement. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Greek cross and was designed immediately after the 1693 earthquake. A central fresco in the octagonal dome depicts the Triumph of Saint Anthony; it is by Crestadoro. Friezes, frescoes and stucco also adorn the dome. The floor plan and dome thus offer two distinct ways to appreciate the church’s design.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria di Gesù is also associated with a specific work of art: it houses a valuable wooden crucifix by Giovanni Pintorno da Petralia Soprana, also known as Frate Umile. It was created in 1633. Together with the architecture of the Carmine and Sant’Antonio churches, it makes for a varied itinerary for travellers interested in sacred architecture and works of art.

The Chiesa della Madonna del Carmine is accessible to people with disabilities. If this information is important for your visit, confirm accessibility locally in advance. Another practical pointer concerns the Chiesa di San Sebastiano: from the town centre known as “i quattro canti”, at the intersection of Via Umberto and Via Vittorio Emanuele, follow Via Vittorio Emanuele 230 metres south to number 20. The walk takes about four minutes. Check this route information locally before travelling if you’re planning your way around the area.

Festivals and events throughout the year

At noon on Easter Sunday, Ferla celebrates u Scontru: the statues of the Mother and the risen Son meet. The feast of San Sebastiano takes place on 20 July. Both dates are quite different from the later summer events. If you want to plan your trip around one of these occasions, check that year’s programme before setting off.

Cardacia takes place in August and is a summertime version of the Sicilian Carnival. The programme includes dances, allegorical floats and masked groups. Lithos is a national series of events featuring popular, acoustic and contemporary music; it takes place from late August to early September on the open-air staircase of the Capuchin monastery. Cardacia and Lithos thus offer different cultural highlights later in the summer. The months listed provide a general guide; check the current events schedule when planning specific travel dates.

Landscape, routes and getting there

The area around Ferla features a rural Hyblaean landscape of olive, carob and almond trees, vineyards and dry-stone walls. You can also sample typical products of the Hyblaean area in Ferla, including olive oil, black and green olives, cheese, mushrooms, sausage and cured meats, hazelnuts and almonds. The landscape and local produce complement a visit to the churches with another distinct insight into the area.

For travellers interested in longer routes, the 30th stage of the Antica Trasversale Sicula runs from Ferla to Sortino through the heart of the Monti Iblei. It passes the significant settlement of Pantalica and partly follows the Trazzera that led from Ferla to Pedagaggi. The stage thus links the Ferla–Sortino route with a section of the historic route to Pedagaggi. Ferla can also be reached by bus from Siracusa. If you plan to use this service to get there, check current travel options in advance.

Discover more destinations: Fanusa, Villa Vela, Augusta, Lido Di Noto, Pachino, Solarino, Calabernardo, Francofonte.

For the main travel overview: Syracuse.