Acitrezza is a small fishing village on the Sicilian coast between Catania and Taormina, and one of the most picturesque spots on this stretch of shoreline. It is best known for the Faraglioni dei Ciclopi, a cluster of dramatic basalt sea stacks rising from the water just offshore, which legend says were hurled at Odysseus by the blinded Cyclops Polyphemus.
The village has strong literary credentials too. Giovanni Verga set his masterpiece I Malavoglia (1881) here, a novel about a struggling fishing family that is considered one of the great works of Italian realism. Luchino Visconti later filmed La Terra Trema in the village, using local fishermen as actors. A small museum near the harbour tells the story of both the novel and the film.
Despite its fame, Acitrezza remains a working fishing village with an unhurried character. The harbour is lined with small boats and a handful of excellent seafood restaurants where you can eat freshly caught fish while looking out at the Faraglioni. In summer, boat trips circle the sea stacks and visit the small island of Lachea, now a nature reserve. The village is easily reached by bus from Catania, making it a perfect half-day trip.