The experience
Three villages surrounded by nature, discovering castles, archives and memories of the past
Three beautiful villages immersed in the Madonie Park that preserve places of memory, workshops of the last artisans, museums that tell the peasant tradition of those who emigrated from these places to seek their fortune elsewhere. A journey where time seems to have stopped, which allows you to get to know a priceless landscape, artistic and monumental heritage; between scents and ancient flavors of the delicacies of the local gastronomic tradition and tales of a past time.
Far from the classic tourist circuits, Geraci Siculo, Petralia Soprana and Petralia Sottana jealously guard extraordinary treasures. Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and, finally, the famous Ventimiglia dynasty passed through here, leaving a legacy of jewels from different and distant eras. The architectural layout of the three small Madonie towns conceals precious churches and works of art, enriched by a valuable sculptural heritage, unique in its kind. Between narrow and winding streets that climb to the top and flowery alleys, you can relive the air and flavor of the Middle Ages in well-preserved historic centers. In the squares, the older people seem to mark the time that passes slowly, preserving the memory of the place.
Surrounding the three towns, there is one of the most beautiful parks in Italy: the Madonie Park. In the mountains of the heart of Sicily, you can venture into exciting and relaxing excursions for the whole family, away from the noise of the big cities. Here you can admire the different plant and animal species; observe geological peculiarities; Let yourself be overwhelmed by the fun offered by equipped areas, bridleways, guided trails and sports facilities.
Shortly
Tour
GERACI SICULO
Guided tour of the historic center. Starting from the central Piazza del Popolo, it will be possible to admire: the imposing church of Santa Maria Maggiore, inside which are kept precious works of art; the Castle of Geraci, an ancient 14th-century manor house of Count Francesco I Ventimiglia; the streets of the “flowered itinerary” (ancient medieval views, adorned with different floral species, for an explosion of scents and colors); the Angelmaro Tower, now a private residence, which still retains its original entrance door; and finally, the Ventimiglia Leap, a transparent walkway suspended in the void, built with the intention of reviving the historic exploits of Count Francesco I. At the conclusion of the guided tour, a typical lunch at a local restaurant, savoring traditional dishes, which see the prevalence of meats and cheeses. Unmissable will be “Tagghiarina,” fresh pasta that in tradition was prepared on occasions of holidays such as Christmas or Carnival, and “Sazizzunedda,” a meatball made of meat, egg, mint, and garlic, roasted between two bay leaves. Free afternoon. Typical dinner. Overnight stay in farmhouse in Petralia Soprana.
Address: Piazza del Popolo, Geraci Siculo (PA), Italy
Petralia Sottana, the "Little Paris"
Named for the monumental elegance of its noble palaces and the beauty of its views, Petralia Sottana is still shrouded in a stately aura. A guided tour through major naturalistic points of interest. Following the royal trazzera, you will reach the marvelous bridge of San Brancato, a Romanesque treasure, and the Rocca Sant’Otiero, which stands out in the center of a fascinating landscape of rocks and waterfalls. It is a Unesco Geopark site, known for the uniqueness of its fossil-rich rock from the Miocene period.
Address: Piazza Umberto I, Petralia Sottana (PA), Italy.
Petralia Soprana. Discovering the Madonite pearl, between animals and nature and historical archives
Visit at a farm in the Madonie Mountains. Here you can leave the city stress behind and fearlessly pet a baby goat or watch it being milked. Contact with animals is just such medicine for young and old alike. Promotion and enhancement of local products are the watchwords. Ancient traditions connected to the territory allow visitors to savor again forgotten tastes, flavors, smells by reviving, the contact with a rural and sustainable world. Here, time has stood still: the short supply chain of meat and produce grown directly on the farm is promoted. After a lunch with typical local products, the tour will continue with a walk among the jewel churches, the crucifixes of Brother Humble, the artisans who carve sculptures with sacred subjects, the noble palaces, the sudden alleys filled with flowers where perhaps grandmothers sit for a cool breeze. Visiting it will be a narrative and sensory experience, so that no treasure is forgotten. Walking a few steps, the tour will conclude with a visit to the former convent of Maria SS. del Carmelo, inside which is housed the civic museum “Of Memory and the Present.”
Dinner. Overnight stay
Address: Piazza del Popolo, Petralia Soprana (PA), Italy
❖ Experience optional: Genealogical research
Discovering one’s family tree. Visitors will have the opportunity to research and discover their own origins and family history, right from Municipal and Parish Documentary Archives. That genealogical thread that connects them back to the place they visited, despite emigrating overseas. Looking for documents that are evidence of lifestyles, places where ancestors lived and spent their existence, the trades they practiced.
Let us guide you on your journey to the Roots
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