Naso (Sicilian: Nasu) is a town and comune in northeastern Sicily, Italy, administratively part of the Metropolitan City of Messina.

Origins Naso, a village with roots in the early Middle Ages, was established by people seeking refuge from Arab invasions.

Located near the present town of Ficarra, Nasida was notable due to Basilian Abbot Conone Navacita, a revered figure from the era of King Roger II.

The relics of St. Conone, born under King Roger II and believed to have died in 1236, are preserved here, and he is honored as the town's patron saint."

Nearby Capo d'Orlando hosted the ancient settlement of Agathyrsum, believed to be founded by Agathirsus, son of Aeolus.

In more recent times, like many Sicilian towns, Naso faced economic challenges, compounded by significant emigration during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Historical records dating back to 1545 mention the town as "Neso", believed to be located near a region called ‘Nesia’ close to Mount Etna.

This name evolved over time, and by the 18th century, references describe the town as ‘Naso’ [Nose], noting its proximity to ‘Nesia’ and the promontory 'Capo d'Orlando'.

They believed that the town's name might be derived from the Greek word "Nesos", meaning "island", signifying a remote or secluded spot.

This perspective aligns with Carlo Battisti's view, emphasizing that some names previously thought to have Greek origins were in fact derived from Latin, as evidenced by adjectival suffixes.

Delving deeper into the linguistic evolution of the name, Rodney Sampson posits that the vowel /a/ tends to shift to /e/ when adjacent to nasal consonants /m, n/ in certain Southern Italian dialects.

Further complicating the debate, Franz Bopp suggested a connection between the Greek "Nesos" and the Sanskrit 'nasa' and Latin 'nasus', proposing that 'Nesos' might have originally meant 'nose' or 'cape'.

Evidence from "Classics and Oriental Studies" adds another layer of complexity, suggesting that "Nesos-Nasos" could signify a 'mountain' or specifically a 'populated mountain'.

See Berosi Sacerdotis Chaldaici Antiquitatum Libri Quinque”, Anversa, 1545: “Nesus, nunc Nasus, a Nesia regione iuxta Aetnam, milia quatuor a mari seiunctum (...) Est ad Orientem aedicula parum distans, quae Sancta Maria Nasida nuncupatur” 4.

See Johannis Baptistae Carusii [Giovan Battista Caruso], “Bibliotheca Historica Regni Siciliae, Panormi [Palermo], 1723, p. 26: “Nesus, nunc Nasus a Nesia regione, milia quatuor a promontorio quod 'Capo d'Orlando' nostri vocant (…) cui vicina aedicula antiqua Orientem versus quo Sancta Maria Nasida nuncupatur” 5. see G. Alessio [“Rendiconti dell'Istituto Lombardo”, LXXVII, 132, 140 n.2; LXXVII 696 ff.