A medieval town built of black lava on the northern slopes of Etna
Randazzo, on the northern slopes of Etna, is the medieval town closest to the volcano's craters, yet lava flows have always miraculously spared it. Its churches, palaces and walls are built in dark lava stone, which gives it a severe, fascinating appearance.
In the Middle Ages the town was divided into three quarters, each with its own church and its own dialect: Latin, Greek and Lombard. The three great churches survive: the basilica of Santa Maria, with a black and white façade, San Martino, with a magnificent bell tower, and San Nicolò. The narrow lanes, mullioned windows and the Swabian castle, now a museum, recall the time when Frederick II and the kings of Aragon stayed here.
Tip: Randazzo is in the heart of the Etna wine country, with many wineries offering tastings; the Circumetnea railway, a small train that circles the volcano, stops here.
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