Cefalù

Distance from Cefalù Km. 68 | h. 01:00 |

Palermo

Palermo, the quintessence of Sicily, is capable of being chaotic, elegant, fascinating, secretive and a little decadant, all at the same time. The main centre on the island since the 9th Century B.C., its current appearance derives mainly from its past rich in influence and foreign domination and demonstrates the typical Sicilian fusion of art, architecture and way of life on which the past invaders have left their impression. In the small streets and alleys of its huge historic centre elegant Baroque and Norman monuments stand side-by-side with arabic domes, the Byzantine street markets of the "Ballaro", "Vucciria" and "Capo" invade the populated medieval quarters of the city and some of the most important Italian brands can be found on the elegant Via Libertà in the city centre. Palermo has undergone a number of changes during the past thirty years. First its suburbs were "assaulted" by a mass of concrete and subsequently the city has been "salvaged" in various stages from the embarassing state of degradation in which it was left for some time after the end of the second world war. The city's slow and laborious resotoration locked horns with the various layers of bureaucracy in the government, with speculation and with negligence resulting in a city that has two sides: its fascinating and undisputed architectural treasures set against its poor standards of maintenance and crumbling services. Despite this fact, its fascination is unquestioned and there is not a corner of the historic centre of the city that will not provide you with a pleasant surprise: alleys, markets, squares that provide you with an opportunity to admire the city's architectural treasures, some of which are stiil in a state of disrepair, and to sample the real essence of the city, its inhabitants and their Byzantine and Arabic origins which continue to flourish today in the gestures and voices of the stall holders in the colourful and picturesque street markets where they sell everything from fresh fish to clothes, spices to typical local dishes cooked and eaten on the street. An experience for all the senses. A visit to the city's numerous and famous monuments, churches, squares, cathedrals, villas and aristocratic residences is an absolute must. In particular we recommend the Cathedral, the Palazzo Reale, the Cappella Palatina, the Martorana, San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the Spasimo church in the Kalsa district (the oldest district in Palermo), the church of Santa Maria della Catena, Casa Professa, the Chiesa della Magione, the Chiesa della Gancia, Palazzo Aiutamicristo, Steri, Abatellis, Chiaramonte, the Palazzina Cinese and Villa Giulia, the 19th century Botanical Garden, the Giardino Inglese, the Parco d'Orleans, the Villa Malfitano Whitaker and the city's famous squares such as Piazza Marina, Piazza delle Vergogna, the Quattro Canti, Piazza Magione, Piazza Indipendenza and Piazza Politeama. All need to be visited with care and attention, however, we recommend that you go looking for some of the less tourist-orientated sights by consulting a good alternative guide book which should also help you to discover the gastronomic traditions of the city which contain surprises of their own. You should try to penetrate on foot the small, hidden alleys of the historic centre or ask one of the carriage drivers to take you on a tour of less tourist-orientated parts of the city. If you still have time, it is well worth visiting some of the sights near the city and in particular we recommend Monreale with its Benedictine Cloisters, one of the finest examples of Arab-Norman architecture in Sicily, and Mondello where examples of some of Sicily's finest art-deco villas can be found.

Distance from Cefalù Km. 23 | h. 00:00 |

Castelbuono

The township of Castelbuono lies in the heart of the Madonie mountain range: with its Castle perched on the Colle San Pietro this place appears like a village of times gone by! Castelbuono is situated within the luxuriant and glowing vegetation of its woods of oaks, chestnuts, cherry trees, and above all of manna ashes. The local manna ash is the tree from which, through a series of small cuts made in its bark, a sugary liquid pours out that solidifies under the heat of the sun producing the well-known “Manna.” Manna is an arboreal essence in great demand for its numerous detoxifying properties that is also used in local confectionery. Castelbuono is one of the few townships in the world together with the adjacent village of Pollina to cultivate the “manna” extracted from ash trees’ trunks and to encourage the subsistence of the very ancient job of the ash grower. The origins of Castelbuono are to be connected with the small Byzantine centre of “Ypsigro” (from Byzantine Greek, “fresh spot”) which existed near the present-day township. Since the fourteenth century the history of Castelbuono becomes intertwined with the history of the County of Geraci and of the Ventimiglia family. Under their “enlightened” government, the township experienced a considerable growth throughout the centuries. In the sixteenth century Castelbuono was attributed the title of “Capital of the Ventimiglia Estate” which included more than “twenty lands” and many “fiefdoms.” The Castle of Ventimiglia is the last evidence of all these properties. It was built in 1316 under Count Francesco I’s order. On the central piazza Margherita (decorated in its centre by a fountain from the sixteenth century) lies the Matrice Vecchia church (dating from the half of the fourteenth century) with its Renaissance portico on its façade side and a bell tower covered with coloured maiolica. From piazza Margherita, Sant’Anna road leads straight to the imposing Castle on top of two large and impressive stairways through a passage marked out by a beautiful gothic style wooden portico of 1316. Although it has been damaged, the Castle still maintains its firm character as a “medieval manor house” with a regular ground plan and square towers at each corner. Its interiors still live up to the aristocratic nobility that once resided here, and are divided into several elegant halls decorated with stucchi by Giuseppe and Giacomo Serpotta. The Castle was used as the setting for the Oscar winning film “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso” by Giuseppe Tornatore. Today it houses the Civic Museum, that includes an archeological, a sacred arts and a picture gallery section. This latter also welcomes contemporary art exhibitions. Craftsmanship is still flourishing in Castelbuono. Wooden crafts and cast iron objects figure amongst the most popular and well-appreciated items. Special attention shoud also be given to women handicraft, especially needlework, lacework, weaving. Among the local gourmet products, confectioneries are also widely appreciated abroad. You can savour the local Easter cake baked in the shape of a dove (“colomba”), as well as hand-painted Easter eggs, the manna panettone, almond products, different types and shapes of biscuits and delicious homemade bread. There are as well several noteworthy wineries and olive oil mills whose high quality products are exported all over the world. The feast of Castelbuono’s patron, Saint Anna, on 27th July is one of the major events in the township. The “Arruccata di li Ventimiglia” is a period costume parade and performance of the most significant moments in the history of Castelbuono.

Distance from Cefalù Km. 15 | h. 00:00 |

Imera

The necropolis of Himera (Palermo) reveals about 12,000 Pre-Roman tombs with skeletons of soldiers and civilians, as well as temples which date back to the VI and V century B.C. Some of the remains have been transferred to the nearby Antiquarium Museum, where an Archaeological Park may be founded. After residing for several years abroad, the Phiale Aurea of Caltavuturo has been displayed at the Antiquarium Museum. The Phiale's shape – phiale mesomphalos in Greek, better known in Latin as patera umbilicata - connects this item with an object belonging to the religious sphere which functioned as a cup for the votive offering; if that is the case, it could have been part of the sanctuary's treasure. It is characterised by a central omphalos (navel), and decorated with printed or engraved motifs that cover its entire surface and are distributed into four concentric lines: that is, acorns, bees and beech nuts that are connected with each other through lines, knots and beads. A refined plant motif with clusters, leaves and vine shoots occupies the inside area. The external border carries the inscription, in Greek, which according to one interpretation would represent the name of the dedicator Damarco, son of Achryrio, as well as an indication of the cup's weight. The Phiale can be dated in between the second half of the IV and the first half of the III century B.C.

Distance from Cefalù Km. 17 | h. 00:00 |

Gratteri

This is a picturesque village within the Madonie mountain range of around 1000 inhabitants, at a height of 650 metres above sea level and surrounded by a luxuriant wood that overlooks the bay of Cefalù: the forest of the Madonie, the second highest mountain range in Sicily after Mount Etna. The first human settlement dates back to the IX century and it is of Arab origins. Then in 1059 the Normans arrived, who were responsible for the construction of numerous abbeys, such as the Abbey of San Giorgio, of which some decorations still remain similar to the ones from the cathedral of Cefalù, as well as the church’s perimeter walls showing a three-nave basilica plan. From the XV century onwards, Gratteri was under the control of the Ventimiglia family who extended the old medieval centre, comprising the castle surrounded by the ancient defensive wall structure. In Gratteri one can experience the local and authentic atmosphere of ancient rural Sicily. Here, far away from other crowded and tourist locations, one can discover its quiet village life and ancient traditions and it may happen that while you delight in Gratteri’s excellent gastronomy sitting in a local restaurant, you realise you may actually be its only warmly cuddled customers. The village balances well the conservation of its traditions and the moderate and clever opening up of an eco-sustainable tourism. It is not by chance that some big names in show business (amongst whom the journalist Lilli Gruber) have become the owners of some ancient houses in the city centre, where they go to spend their holidays. Today the castle is no more visible but its medieval arrangement remains. At the heart of the village is Corso Umberto where lies a cathedral dedicated to San Michele Arcangelo. Built very close to the castle structure by the Ventimiglia family, this was probably their private chapel. The inscription on one of its bells records the date of 1390. Within a treasured silver reliquary inside the cathedral are four Thorns from Jesus Christ’s Crown. This priceless religious treasure is much venerated by the people of Gratteri who celebrate a festival held on the first Sunday in May each year. Count Roger of Altavilla himself transported the thorns from Jerusalem. In 1648, to honour the Holy Thorns the Baron Lorenzo Ventimiglia had an opulent marble altar built together with a sturdy iron case. On the sides of the case were two angels (which have not reached us unfortunately), one of which featured Gratteri’s coat of arms representing a dove drinking from a spring surrounded by the inscription “Tuere Nobile Gratterium.” Today, both the altar and its case are kept in the appropriately named Chapel of the Holy Thorns inside the Chiesa Madre. Until a few years ago, the people from Gratteri (“the Gratteresi”) used to display the Holy Thorns when natural disasters such as strong Sirocco winds or severe drought occurred so that such plagues may cease. One of the most beautiful places to visit around here is a charming cave named “Grattara,” to which the origins of the name Gratteri are likely to be attributed. The cave lies at the foot of Pizzo di Pilo (more than 1000 metres above sea level) and from here one can enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding area. The access route is rather sinuous but practicable overall. The route finally opens up to a luxuriant pine forest that leads to a small hill named “lazzu di vuoi” (oxen’s resting place). From here a short plain road leads directly to the cave. At the centre of the cave is a big stone crater which has been formed by the constant erosion of dripping waters. Access to the spring is through a modest natural staircase. In this area the splendid and rare Abies Nebrodensis can be found, an endemic relict species dating back to glaciation period. The Grattara cave is an essential part of Gratteri’s history and folklore tradition because, according to legend, the cave was the shelter of the Befana (“a vecchia”) who used to slide down Gratteri’s chimneypots on the last night of each year enveloped in a white sheet to load children’s stockings with gifts. Even today, the Grattara Cave is the final destination of an end-of-the-year torchlight procession that starts from the main square and ends with the burning of an old woman puppet amid folk songs and music. Another ancient and local tradition is held on 18th March, the night preceding the festival of San Giuseppe. In Gratteri, as in other places in Sicily, it is still a custom to light fires and torches on such occasions: these are called “i vampi” and are huge hips of wood that people gather together in square-like spaces and that are lit at the approaching of the procession Saint. The flames of these fires are called “luminarie.” When all the wood has burnt the charcoal is used as barbecue to grill sausages and artichokes that are offered to all the people around.

Distance from Cefalù Km. 17 | h. 00:00 |

Madonie National Park

The Madonie mountains contain one of the most noted mountain eco-systems in the Mediterranean basin due to the rich diversity of its flora. The Madonie National Park was created in 1989, covers an area of 40,000 hectares and contains 15 municipalities: Petralia Sottana, Isnello, Polizzi Generosa, Geraci Siculo, Collesano, Cefalù, Gratteri, Castelbuono, Caltavuturo, Scillato, Petralia Soprana, Pollina, Castellana Sicula, Sclafani Bagni and San Mauro Castelverde. The highest point in the Park is Pizzo Carbonara at an altitude of 1,979 metres which is the second highest mountain on the island. The woods at the foot of this mountain are amongst the most varied in the Mediterranean. Up to a height of 1,500 metres you can find beech trees, elm trees, holm oak trees, cork oak trees and even holly trees. Numerous endemic plants have also found an ecological niche here. The small mountain towns and villages, many of which were founded by the Arabs and Normans to defend the hinterland, offer a glimpse of the past which has remained almost intact. Various commercial activities take place in the Park such as sheep farming, the production of excellent cheese, the production of ceramics at Polizzi Generosa and Collesano, stone masonry at Geraci, the production of wooden barrels, staircases and handles and weaving of willow baskets. There are also some small producers of excellent olive oil at San Mauro Castelverde and Scillato and exquisite pastries and liqueurs at Castelbuono where there is also an important winery, Abbazia Santa Anastasia, a former convent surrounded by vine-covered hills. Several trails accessible on horseback or on foot run through the park and enable you to discover its magnificent beauty. Some of the most important sites include the natural amphitheatre of Monte Quacella, Piano Cervi and its copper beach trees, the Santuario della Madonna dell’Alto, Piano Pomo with its enormous holly trees, the Grotta del Vecchiuzzo at Petralia Sottana, the valley of Madonna degli Angeli which runs down from the flanks of Monte San Salvatore and the bucolic Valle di Pomieri. All of the trails are easy to follow and are well signposted, however, you will find a map indicating the location of these trails at each of our properties in the area. If you would like to discover the traditional social and cultural atmosphere of Sicily which has all but disappeared in other parts of the island, we suggest a visit to some of the mountain towns and villages in the Park. In particular we recommend Castelbuono with its imposing Castello di Ventimiglia, Polizzi Generosa perched on the crest of a rock at a height or more than 1,000 metres with a delightful historic centre bursting with churches and monuments, Petralia Sottana founded by the Normans and Petralia Soprana, the highest town in the Madonie mountains, small and medieval in nature, where time seems to stand still, Geraci Siculo with its tortuous, narrow, paved streets and the imposing town of Gangi with the best view of all over the Madonie. The further you penetrate into the heart of the Park, the more glimpses you will catch of the traditional Sicilian rural way of life. In nearly all of the towns and villages in the Park, religious festvals are strictly observed and celebrated. Over the years many of these festivals have been transformed into traditional town festivals and festivals to celebrate local produce. Nowadays it is quite likely that you will encounter one of these festivals at almost any time of the year. However, the Park offers other opportunities. For golf enthusiasts there is a recently-constructed 18 hole golf course at Campofelice di Roccella surrounded by ancient olive and citrus trees. For the entertainment of adults and children alike, there is the new Parco Avventura Madonie located in the middle of a dense wood near to Petralia Soprana with various acrobatic paths in the trees, horse riding, archery, trekking and many other attractions. For lovers of the sea, towards the north-eastern part of the Park facing the Mediterranean Sea, there is the seaside resort of Cefalù and a little further on the town of Finale di Pollina. In this wonderful stretch of coastline there are numeorus bays and inlets with small sandy beaches. The Madonie also have a fine tradition of food and wine based on the numerous specialities of the region such as fagioli a badda from Polizzi, recognized by the Slow Food movement, mountain greens and vegetables and locally produced meats. A number of good restaurants in the area have modified and adapted traditional recipies with excellent results. Noted examples can be found in the towns of Gratteri, Castelbuono, Polizzi Generosa and Castellana Sicula. Please contact us if you would like names, addresses and telephone numbers. There is also no shortage of bars and pastry shops where you can sample some of the typical local biscuits and pastries. A map of the Park is available in the map section of the website.

Distance from Cefalù Km. 57 | h. 01:00 |

Polizzi Generosa

 The origins of this small medieval village that lies within the Madonie Nature Park are as uncertain as its dating. The few remaining ruins of its necropolis, the recent discovery of a few coins and other terracotta items suggest that the city existed since the Hellenistic period (third century BC). Its name would derive from Polizzi (Polis), as the historian Diodorus Siculus defined it as “a Sicilian Athens.” Others would trace the name back to the ancient Palikoi (“of Palici”) people. Polizzi obtained its still in use attribute “Generosa” (“the generous”) in 1234 from the Friedich II of Sweden who appreciated the richness of its territory. For brief periods of time Polizzi was a city-state or a free and independent territory with its own government and its renowned fair and just laws. It was also the residence of Princes and Sovereigns among whom Queen Elizabeth of Aragon, the Emperor Charles V and Queen Blanche of Navarre (Vicar of the Kingdom of Sicily). Its period of highest splendour was the Renaissance, as Polizzi became a major crossroad and an important hub for trade and travel at that time. The two royal trazzere (“local paths, ways”) were the main road links of the time between Palermo, Messina and the area of Licata. Along the two branches of the once navigable Himera river – bordered with fields of corn and wheat and overlooked by Polizzi – the “old wheat road” unfolded, of which Polizzi controlled duty and customs.  The presence of many aristocratic families in this area, along with the so-called “Maggiorasco” law (“principle of primogeniture”) dictating that the younger sons belonging to these families would have to embark on a monastic life, had a great impact upon the construction of numerous churches and monasteries, some veritable jewels of architecture that have carefully preserved a large quantity of masterpieces. These churches and a few sumptuous aristocratic palaces, surrounded by small medieval centres that extend over this hilly area, confer to Polizzi the charming atmosphere of a village which appears “lost in time.” It is indeed possible here to partake in the daily routine of village life while being surrounded by an almost uncontaminated landscape, where your eyes can fully embrace the spectacle of nature of the high Madonie mountain range framing its green valleys and the thick forests that extend across them. Today Polizzi has reached a good balance between a moderate growth, an attentive preservation of its customs and a sustainable tourism that make this place an ideal destination for the keen traveller in search of places that reward him or her with intense emotions which are hard to experience anywhere else in Sicily. Polizzi is a village with a rich historical heritage, proud of its traditions. It is not by chance that Polizzi's recent history has seen the birth of various artists and personalities of international fame, such as Stefano Dolce (Dolce & Gabbana), Martin Scorsese and the late actor Vincent Schiavelli, who wanted to spend the last years of his life in his native village. Strolling around Polizzi’s narrow and impractible roads one comes across a number of both plain and sumptuous churches in every corner, as well as richly decorated palaces, old and unadorned houses, palace and farm courtyards, flower and vegetable gardens, modest art and crafts shops, a couple of museums and a few good restaurants offering a taste of the rich local Sicilian delicacies. Apart from its 21 churches, among which Santa Margherita, Santa Maria delle Grazie, Carmine, Mother church, the Commenda, San Gandolfo, San Nicolò de Franchis, Santa Maria degli Schiavi and the old aristocratic palaces of Caruso-Porcaro, Carpinello and Gagliardo, are as well the environmental and archaeological museums, the ruins of the Castle fortified by King Roger “the Norman,” the Tower of Leo in the Byzantine quarter and the Arches, an aqueduct built at the end of 1400. Polizzi is famous for its cultivation and production of hazelnuts, constituting the major source of substistence for its local economy for almost a century. Today, hazelnut cultivation is being gradually abandonded because of the decreased market price of this product and the lack of innovation in current cultivation and harvesting methods. Every year in August (the harvest month) the village organises a hazelnut festival (“sagra”), a local village fair with community folkore and touring shows, mountings of traditional rustic houses built out of stone or straw and the free distribution of hazelnuts thrown from allegorical chariots.

Distance from Cefalù Km. 36 | h. 00:00 |

Santo Stefano di Camastra

Distance from Cefalù Km. 55 | h. 01:00 |

Nebrodi National Park

The National Park of the Nebrodi mountains, stretching for around 70 kilometres, together with the Madonie mountains to the west and the Peloritani mountains to the east, form the siculan Appenines. The Park faces the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north and is bordered to the east by Etna, the Alcantara river and the upper reaches of the Simeto river. The natural features which most strongly characterize the landscape of the Nebrodi mountains include the diversity in the shape of the landscape itself, the rich vegetation and the moist, humid atmosphere. Their peaks, which reach a maximum height of 1,847 metres above sea level with Monte Soro, have round flanks which open out into wide valleys that have been sculpted by numerous rivers which flow into the Tyrrhenian Sea. In some parts their features resemble the Dolomites with irregular profiles and jagged forms. Good examples of this are the spectacular and impervious limestone rock formations of Monte San Fratello and, above all, the Rocche del Crasto in the region of Alcara Li Fusi and S. Marco D'Alunzio. The Nebrodi mountains are characterized by dense woods, high, verdant pastures, peaceful lakes and fast-flowing streams which contrast with the popular view of Sicily as an arid land parched by the sun. The Park has numerous destinations of interest for visitors such as the Castello dell’Impallaccionata or Pietratagliata, the Maulazzo lake at an altitude of 1,400 metres set in the middle of the Solazzo Verde plantation of beech trees and the Biviere lake near Cesarò which is the most important moist, mountain habitat for nature in Sicily. The Zerbetto, Malo Passo, Fossa del Lupo, Mangalaviti and Serra del Re woods between Longi and Bronte, accessible from Galati Mamertino, represent an area of extraordinary beauty and fascination for its dense vegetation and numerous streams. In total there are 23 municipalities inside the Nebrodi National Park: Acquedolci, Alcara Li Fusi, Capizzi, Caronia, Cesarò, Floresta, Galati Mamertino, Longi, Militello Rosmarino, Mistretta, Sant’Agata Militello, Santa Domenica Vittoria, San Fratello, San Marco d'Alunzio, Santo Stefano di Camastra, San Teodoro, Tortorici, Ucria, Bronte, Maniace, Randazzo, Cerami and Troina.

Distance from Cefalù Km. 75 | h. 01:00 |

Sperlinga

Sperlinga is a small and attractive township in the Enna province that extends along the side of a rock buttress which was inhabited since the Sicani natives peopled this area. Sperlinga lies between the Nebrodi and the Madonie Mountains, about 750 metres above sea level, and 47 km away from Enna. Its name derives from the Greek, and means “spelonca” or cave. The history of Sperlinga is very strictly linked with the history of its intriguing and fascinating Medieval Castle, figuring in the “Castles of Italy” list. Built around 1082, the castle was carved out of a huge mass of sandstone. It hence presents very thick ashlar walls, with carved out steps and rooms and is protected by the natural barriers of its surrounding environment. Sperlinga and its castle entered history during the Sicilian Vespers (30th March 1282), when Sperlinga was the only place in Sicily to guarantee protection to the French colonisers while a massive popular insurrection against the Angevins exploded throughout the island. On the entrance gate to the castle, its inhabitants proudly engraved the following epigraph:  Quod siculis placuit sola Sperlinga negavit: “what pleased Sicily, only Sperlinga did not like.” A steep stone stairway leads to the viewpoint offering magnificent views over the Gangi plateau, the Madonie and the Nebrodi mountains, and lastly over Mount Etna. Sperlinga boasts at least fifty intriguing caves carved out of the rock by the Byzantines, that are organised over several levels and represented the inhabited nucleus since the nineteenth century. The caves are used today as store space for the inhabitants of Sperlinga, or as cattle sheds. In some cases, provided a façade is added to the structure, the caves are used as proper houses. Some of the caves nearer to the castle have been bought by the municipality and used as Museum spaces. One of these, which is more than 165 square metres wide, constitutes the Ethno-anthropological Museum, which can be visited as part of the castle itinerary. The museum houses numerous objects of material culture and in particular of the peasant culture of the time. 

Distance from Cefalù Km. 56 | h. 01:00 |

Petralia Soprana

Petralia Soprana lies at the heart of Sicily, in the province of Palermo. Petralia Soprana is the highest village in the Madonie mountain range. It dominates over a broad landscape that embraces the snowy summits of Mount Etna, the mountains around the region of Palermo, and the wide valleys and rivers of the surrounding countryside. The view from up the Petralia plateau stirs intense emotions, especially during those days when layered clouds at low altitude offer a series of uplifting landscapes and tinted sunsets. A site of great importance during the Greek and Carthaginian domination, Petralia was the first Sicilian centre to fall under the control of the Romans. Named “Petra” by the Romans, it was one of the sites that provided the largest quantities of wheat to the Roman Empire. Following the Arab conquest, its name changed into “Batraliah” and Petralia later became a potent stronghold during the Norman period. The village still maintains its original urban medieval structure today, with its narrow paved roads, its churches and aristocratic palazzi, its attractive courtyards and its linear brick houses that open up to charming little squares and splendid views. Petralia Soprana stands outside the ordinary tourist itineraries and seems nowadays to “survive by itself,” assuming more and more the character of a “living Christmas crib.” These characteristics make it an exclusive and fascinating destination, and that is why attentive and informed visitors prefer it to other holiday sites: they want to explore ancient and forgotten places like this that have strongly contributed to the history of Sicily. A scrupulous visit to Petralia will allow you to savour its beauty from within, perhaps through the visit (with a bit of audacity and luck) of one of its grandiose aristocratic palazzi that hide several masterpieces within their walls, the results of human talent and craft. The village is rich in monuments and churches of great architectural interest such as:
The Chiesa Madre, built in the fifteenth century, reflects the principles of medieval architectural culture, displaying an extremely simple but rigorous profile. Dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the Chiesa Madre overlooks a beautiful square with a sixteenth century portico counting 18 paired slender columns, sculptured by Giuseppe and Giacomo Serpotta. Inside the church is Fra’ Umile Pintorno’s (1580-1639) first crucifix. Pintorno was the sculptor of numerous crucifixes figuring in many Sicilian churches. From the portico you can enjoy scenic views over the villages of Piano Battaglia and Polizzi Generosa, over the city of Enna and Moutn Etna.
The Church of Santa Maria di Loreto was built in the seventeenth century and then rebuilt in 1750. It is perched on the remains of a Saracen castle and its baroque facade is enclosed within two impressive bell towers with brightly coloured spires gleaming under the sunlight. The shape of the church is almost circular, built on a Greek cross plan and rich in stucchi with gold inlay that rise toward the light dome, sustained by four pillars. You can also admire a marble panel from the fifteenth century attributed to Domenico Gangi. Valuable paintings, seventeenth century frescoes and precious period vestments enlighten the sacristy. A charming view opens up on the valley at the back of the church. Still today Petralia operates one of the richest salt deposits in Europe: an enormous lens of rock salt contained in the heart of the mountain rising up to 1,100 metres above sea level. More than 40 km of tunnels unravel underground, where all the working process – from extraction to packing – takes place. A ventilation circuit creates a safe and comfortable enviroment underground. The salt of Petralia is by nature of a special and unique quality. The salt mines can be visited upon request by calling the Petralia Soprana’s town hall. Another of Petralia’s “gems” is the Adventure Park, an adventure trail among the woods that is not just for children! The village celebrates several festivals and recurring events, such as for instance: the "Sagra del Salgemma" (“Salt festival” happening on the last Sunday of August) and the “Matrimonio Baronale” (15th August), a historical commemoration of the aristocratic wedding through seventeenth century costumes, figuring richly dressed ladies, with horses and knights parading through the ancient roads towards the lovely Piazza Duomo. The nuptial ceremony culminates with the spectacular dance “Ballo della Cordella,” and the game “Giostra degli Stendardieri.”