Trecastagni (Catania Province) is 15 km from Catania, alt. 586 m, on the southern side of Mt. Etna, below the Monti Rossi, area 18.9 sq km, with a population of over 7,300, post-code 95039, tel. 095. Economy: agriculture, volcanic stone quarries.

The town was originally at the crossroads of a number of important routes in the Etna area, leading variously to Pedara, Nicolosi, and Viagrande. The town name possibly is for "tre castagni" (three chestnut trees) and is a reference to the town's three patron saints (Alfio, Filadelfio, and Cirino). After belonging to Catania for many years, it was owned by the Di Giovanni family in 1649 and to the Alliatas in the 18th century.

On May 10 is the Festa of Saints Alfio, Cirino, and Filadelfo. There is the Sicilian Cart Festival in May. On December 6 is the Festa of San Nicola di Bari.

Churches (Catania Diocese) include the following:

S. Nicolo di Bari (Chiesa Madre)

SS. Martiri Alfio, Filadelfo e Cirino

Santa Caterina V.M.

Links to sites with more about Trecastagni include:

Italian Wikipedia

Italian Towns

Italian Postal Codes

Sicily Web

Catania Provincia

Sicilia

Sicilian Net

My latest book on CD is titled Sicily - A Reference for Researchers and is now available. With a file for each town (plus many other files), it relates the history of Sicily as reflected in the photos, records and festivals of its towns. It contains over 2500 text and photo files and can be ordered at CD order.