P
erched on a hill with
a ringside seat of
Mount Etna’s smouldering
beauty, Castiglione di
Sicilia is one of the Borghi più Belli
d’Italia, making it offi cially one of
Italy’s prettiest villages. It’s easy to
see why: narrow alleys helter-skelter
past lava-stone piazzas, baroque
churches and basilicas until they
reach the ruins of Castello di Lauria.
But it’s not only the scenery that
punches well above its weight.
The grapes that thrive in these
fertile, lava-fed soils have explosive
aromas, and, despite having
been grown here for thousands
of years, have only recently been
given the attention they deserve.
Companies such as ITS ITALY are
shining a light on the village’s age-
old, wine-making producers and
traditions. Azienda Vitivinicola
Vigneti Vecchio is one example:
grown in volcanic sand, their
gnarly, alberello-trained vines
produce wines which sing boldly
of the island: robust, elegant and
full of ripe red fruit fl avours.
Equally outstanding are the wines
at nearby Azienda Agricola Sofi a,
where the vineyards are organically
farmed to produce bright, mineral-
rich, well-balanced red and white
wines. The red is particularly
memorable, with its long fi nish
and notes of cinnamon, berries and
volcanic earth.Rich in fertile landscapes, cultures and traditions,the medieval town of Castiglione di Sicilia boasts
an age-old wine-making heritageCastiglionedi SiciliaPLAN YOUR TRIP
London-based ITS ITALY aims to
simplify the process of buying and
managing property abroad. Having
signed a partnership with more than 60
municipalities across Italy, it aims to offer
concrete opportunities to invest and
integrate with local communities, while
reinvigorating small towns and villages.
Find out more at itsfor.itTHE SICILIAN JEWEL
The honey-stone, medieval town
of Castiglione di Sicilia , Sicily