Mascalucia

Mascalucia is a populous town in the metropolitan area of Catania, set on the southern foothills of Etna. Its surroundings are unmistakably volcanic: hilly ground, cultivated countryside, vineyard terraces and lava-marked landscapes place it between the city’s edge and the mountain’s higher natural areas.

The town has ancient roots, with Roman-era evidence noted in local history, and it appears in 590 as **Massalargia** among the estates of the Catania territory. Later known also as **Terra di Santa Lucia**, it remained tied to Catania until the 17th century, before entering the orbit of noble power under the Branciforte family, whose title of Duke of Santa Lucia or Mascalucia was granted in 1651.

Mascalucia’s identity is closely connected to Catholic devotion, local confraternities and the memory of Etna’s force. The eruption of 1669, remembered as the **Grande Ruina**, and the earthquake of 1693 both left a deep mark on the area’s story. This combination of volcanic landscape, documented medieval name and enduring devotional culture gives Mascalucia a distinct place among the towns of Etna’s southern slopes.