Pettineo

Province: Messina · Region: Sicily · Population: 1,433 · Postal code: 98070

In 1498 a painter from here signed a panel with the Madonna, the Child and music-making angels: his name was Nicolò da Pettineo, and the picture now hangs in Palermo, in Palazzo Abatellis. Other works of his are at Termini Imerese, Ciminna and Castelvetrano.

The town was born below a Norman castle, and another piece of that time still stands just outside: the tower of Migaido, cylindrical, thirteen metres tall with walls more than three thick, next to the chapel of Sant'Antonino and its frescoed Pantocrator. The town's own castle was built by Alanfranco di San Basilio, who received Pettineo from Frederick III on 11 February 1300. There are 1,433 residents.

🎉 Festivals and feasts in Pettineo 1

Patron saint festival In 201 days

Saint Oliva, patron of a town born around a Norman keep

📅 Every year, on 5 May

Pettineo celebrates Saint Oliva on 5 May, in the church dedicated to her; the town was founded by the Normans around the fortified keep of Migaido, which in the 15th century sheltered exiles from Negroponte fleeing the Ottoman conquest.

🍝 The flavours of Pettineo

Everything to eat in Pettineo →

Street food PAT

Arancino fried rice cone stuffed with ragù, pointed like Etna

Saffron rice, ragù with peas and caciocavallo inside a golden cone-shaped crust: in Catania it is masculine and pointed, and the quarrel with Palermo over the name is serious.

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Street food PAT

Pitone messinese fried half-moon pastry filled with escarole, tuma cheese and anchovies

A thin sheet of dough folded into a half-moon and fried, with escarole, tuma cheese, anchovies and black pepper inside: Messina’s street food, to eat hot straight from the rosticceria.

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What's around

Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.