Discover Santa Margherita Di Belice

Santa Margherita Di Belice combines literary memory, historic architecture, old-town ruins and Sicilian traditions. The town is ideal for you if your trip should consist not only of landscape impressions, but also of stories, settings and regional specialties. Between palaces, theatres, museums and festivals, different approaches to the town’s history and present-day cultural character emerge.

Culture between palace, theatre and old town

An important historical landmark is the Palazzo Filangeri di Cutò. It was built in the 17th century by the Spanish noble family Corbera. The Teatro Sant’Alessandro provides further insight into the history of the family and the town: Alessandro II Filangeri had it built in 1751. It was created as a venue for performances, music and cultural events for the community and the guests of the Filangeri family. Thus, the focus here is not only on individual buildings, but also on the former significance of festivals and performances in social life.

The circular temple “Café House”, dating from the second half of the 19th century, is located in the Villa Comunale. The Villa Comunale is frequently mentioned in the works of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa; the writer spent many afternoons there. Those interested in literature and its specific connections to places will therefore find a different way of exploring the subject here than in a museum or historic palace.

The ruins of the old town in the Calvario district preserve a particularly striking historical trace. Floating stairways, arches and houses in the Baroque and post-Baroque styles have survived there. The ruins are visited by tourists, writers and photographers. Their architectural details make the area a place where history can be understood not only through exhibitions, but also through preserved forms and fragments of buildings.

Il Gattopardo as a literary and cinematic theme

The Museo del Gattopardo is entirely dedicated to Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s novel “Il Gattopardo”. The Parco del Gattopardo is also home to a small wax museum depicting a scene from Luchino Visconti’s film “Il Gattopardo”. The two places have different focuses: here, the novel takes centre stage, while there, it is a depicted film scene.

The Museo della Memoria is located in the rebuilt former cathedral of Santa Margherita di Belìce, which was severely damaged in the 1968 earthquake. This place thus adds another historical layer to the cultural exploration. Together with the palace, theatre and ruins, Santa Margherita Di Belice allows you to discover different periods and forms of memory without limiting the themes to literature or architecture.

Local products and festivals

Regional identity is also reflected in culinary and traditional connections. Vastedda is one of the local fresh cheeses made from the milk of the Pecora del Belice sheep. At the Sagra della Pecora, the sheep of the Valle del Belìce is exhibited. During the Ficodindia Festival, guided tours of the prickly pear cultivation areas are offered. These examples focus on agricultural products, animal husbandry and the cultivation of prickly pears.

The Festa del Santissimo Crocifisso includes the ritual “Scinnuta di la cruci”. The festival also includes a procession through the town’s streets. Santa Margherita di Belice is described as the place of origin of the DOC white wine of the same name. If you are looking for a hotel or other accommodation, you can therefore choose Santa Margherita Di Belice according to your personal interests: literary and historical themes, architecture and ruins, or regional products and festival traditions.

More places to choose from

Other places you can consider for your trip to Sicily include Favara, Racalmuto, Montallegro, Ravanusa, Grotte, Ribera, Villaggio Mosè and Palma Di Montechiaro.

For the overarching travel overview: Agrigento.