Belpasso is located in the Southern slope of Etna volcano; the roads of the town are arranged in echelon formation: this particular disposition was realized by master Michele Cazzetta, in 1693.
The town's original name was "Malpasso", that derives from the Latin term "Mali passus" meaning "Passo del melo" (passage of the apple tree - malum) or, probably, hard passage (malus). It was so called until 1669, when it was destroyed by a terrible eruption of the volcano Etna. Subsequently, the suburb was rebuilt and called Fenicia Moncada, in honor of the Moncada family.
Few years later the center was razed to the ground once again, due to a catastrophic earthquake; so it was rebuilt and was given the current and auspicious name of Belpasso (literally, charming passage). The project of the new town foresaw the current urban disposition, with a grid of roads, that cross at right angles, called "rette" (north-south direction) and "traverse" (east-west direction).
Some of the most enchanting monuments to visit are the Chiesa Madre dated 1700, and the ex Chiesa Collegiata of the Convent, preserving incredible frescoes from 1700. Relevant are also the Palazzotto Bufali and the Palazzo Scrofani, both of the XIX century.