The Gole dell'Alcantara, a range of hiking trails, historic churches and seasonal traditions give Motta Camastra several distinct travel highlights. If you’re looking for a place to stay in town, you can first consider whether your main focus is the river scenery and hiking, or history and local customs. The trails also differ considerably in character, from a flat riverside path to a route in the Peloritani classified as challenging.
Alcantara Gorge and outdoor trails
The Gole dell'Alcantara are located in Contrada Larderia-Sciara, within the municipality of Motta Camastra. In Contrada Larderia, the gorge extends for about 400 metres; it is only a few metres wide, while its walls rise up to 50 metres. The Gole border the SS 185. A long staircase leads down from the state road to the entrance to the Gole di Larderia.
The Sentiero Piccole Gole dell'Alcantara offers a different kind of trail. It is flat and particularly scenic, following a stretch of river with a lava bed, pools and small waterfalls. The route takes in Motta Camastra and Castiglione di Sicilia. Here, the focus is on riverside scenery and volcanic formations, while the Sentiero Montagna Grande leads to a high peak in the Peloritani.
The Sentiero Montagna Grande starts in Motta Camastra and is classified as a challenging route. It leads to the highest peak in the Peloritani range, at 1,374 metres. The Sentiero “Il Calvario” offers a different focus: from the starting point at Piazza Croce, the trail climbs to the summit of Monte Calvario. Three wooden crosses mark the route and refer to the tenth station of the Via Crucis, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This gives the ascent a specific religious significance.
When riverbed conditions allow, you can walk upstream through the Alcantara’s cold waters into the basalt gorge and view its geological formations up close. Entering the river is explicitly dependent on riverbed conditions; check them before planning a visit.
In the San Cataldo area lies the Grotta dei 100 Cavalli, a large volcanic eruption cave. You can reach it by walking along the banks of the Fiume Alcantara near San Cataldo, below the Ponte Al Quatar and close to the municipal boundary with Graniti. Piazza Roccamare in Motta Camastra is a scenic viewpoint overlooking the Alcantara Valley and Mount Etna.
Churches and history
The Parrocchia di San Michele Arcangelo, also known as the Chiesa Madre, dates back to the 17th century. It houses two marble statues from the 16th century: the Immacolata and the Madonna di Montalto. The Chiesa dell'Annunziata is a historic church, probably of Norman origin. The Borgo di San Cataldo is also home to the Ponte di 7 Archi, a bridge dating from the Fascist era. Together, these sites offer a cultural highlight alongside the area’s nature and hiking attractions.
Walnuts and seasonal traditions
The Noce di Motta Camastra is the town’s most important agricultural product and is grown using traditional methods. On 22 July 2004, the Noce di Motta was added by ministerial decree to the list of traditional agricultural and food products of the Region of Sicily. The decree was published on 18 August 2004 in GURI No. 144.
The seasons also shape local customs: at Easter, you can sample Cuddura cu' l'ova, a traditional sweet pastry, in Motta Camastra. The Festa della Noce takes place every year in October. If you’d like to plan your trip around the festival, check the specific event dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Castelmola, Barcellona Pozzo Di Gotto, Gioiosa Marea, Alì, Basicò, San Giorgio, Castroreale, San Piero Patti
For the main travel overview: Messina.
