Aidone is a historic hill town in the Erei area of central-eastern Sicily, set high above a broad landscape of green hills, woods and springs. Its position has earned it the nickname “Balcony of Sicily” or “Terrace of Sicily”, with views that stretch across the surrounding countryside and, in clear conditions, toward Etna.
The town’s identity is closely tied to layers of settlement and language. Its name is said to derive from the Arabic *Ayn dun* or *Ay-ndun*, connected with the idea of a water spring or higher spring, while its medieval history is linked to an Arab or Saracen settlement later rebuilt or repopulated by the Normans in the 11th century. Swabian, Aragonese, Castilian and Bourbon phases added further depth to its character.
Today, Aidone is distinctive for the way its panoramic setting, medieval memory and surviving Gallo-Italic speech come together in a small inland town with a strong cultural and archaeological identity.
Patron Saint:
Saint Lawrence (San Lorenzo Martire) – 10 August
Nearest Airport:
Catania (Fontanarossa) – (62 km, 01:04)
Neighboring Cities:
Attractions
Area archeologica di Morgantina – google maps