Il valore dell’architettura nella comprensione del terroir Etna

The article explores the long relationship between nature and rural architecture on Etna. Historic viticultural areas above 300 m and up to approximately 1,250 m on the southern and eastern slopes were shaped by near-monoculture of vines, rasole terraces and buildings adapted to vineyard work.

At higher elevations, simple pagghiari and casedde offered basic shelter. Below 1,000 m, rough seasonal houses became more frequent, while lower zones developed larger permanent complexes often connected to palmenti and cellars.

TerraCostantino preserves an early-eighteenth-century palmento, large surviving portions of another dated 1699 at Blandano, and a palmento at Milo. The small eighteenth-century structure probably served only a few local families and was later partly converted into living space while its production function was retained.

Old cellars attached to palmenti were slightly buried to remain naturally cool. TerraCostantino applied the same bioclimatic principle to its modern underground winery and barrel cellar, which maintain approximately 15°C and natural ventilation without artificial cooling. The structure follows the descending terraces, while its above-ground portion houses hospitality activities.