Discover Alimena: Landscape, History and Tradition

Alimena combines a striking mountain landscape with an unusually rich history and vibrant Sicilian traditions. The town lies in the catchment area between the Salso River and its tributary, the Imera Meridionale, at the foot of the Balza d’Areddula at an altitude of 1,007 m. This creates a destination where landscapes, historic buildings, active routes and regional specialities come together within a compact thematic area.

Landscape and routes around Alimena

Balza Edera, also known as Balza Areddula, is considered a broad natural terrace with views across Sicily. The area was once inhabited by the Sicanians, meaning that the landscape appears both as a natural setting and as a site of earlier settlement. A special way to experience the surroundings actively is offered by Sentiero 58: it leads from Petralia Soprana to Alimena via a 25 km MTB descent along the riverbed of the Imera Meridionale or Salso.

The Antica Trasversale Sicula also passes through Alimena. Its 16th stage runs between Vallelunga Pratameno and Villapriolo and reaches Alimena via Portella San Filippo. By car, Alimena can be reached from Palermo or Catania via the A19 Palermo–Catania motorway and the Resuttano exit.

Churches, palazzi and local history

In the historic centre, houses and palazzi made from the white stone typical of the town have been preserved. These include Palazzo Calabrese, which was built according to a design by the engineer Utveggio. The history of the churches also tells of Alimena’s development: Antonio Alimena founded the town on 21 February 1628 under a concession from the Spanish king Philip IV. As early as 1629, he built the first church, dedicated to S.M. Maddalena. Due to population growth, Vincenzo Del Bosco had the new Chiesa Madre built in 1723 opposite the Marchese’s palace.

The Chiesa Madre is a Baroque church built in 1724, with a bell tower from the same period. Its altars are adorned with paintings from the 18th century. The Chiesa del Convento di S.Maria di Gesù was begun in 1731 at the initiative of Vincenzo del Bosco, Prince of Belvedere, and completed in 1738. The Chiesa di Sant’Alfonso reflects a particularly notable historical transformation: it was originally an octagonal Spanish watchtower built around 1600 on Colle Quisisana and was converted into a church in 1837 at the request of the people of Alimena.

Stone tradition and Sicilian specialities

The town’s history also includes the former extraction of high-quality limestone at Balza Areddula behind Alimena. The limestone was once extracted with the help of explosives. The blocks were divided into smaller elements, roughly worked and transported down to Alimena by mule; each mule was loaded with two blocks weighing around 50 kg each. This traditional method of working links the landscape of the Balza with the white stone visible in the historic centre.

Alimena’s traditional products include typical sweets for Easter and Christmas, as well as artisanal salumi. At the Feast of Santa Lucia on 13 December, a tasting of savoury cuccia is part of the programme. The Sagra del Ficodindia also takes place in September. From 29 August to 2 September, Alimena hosts a street fair with stalls along the Corso principale and in Via Palermo, Via Roma, Via Catania and Via Vittorio Emanuele.

Festivals with their own soundscape

The Settimana Santa di Alimena includes an evening Good Friday procession. During the Holy Week procession, orally transmitted lamenti are sung to commemorate important moments of Christ’s Passion. For visitors who wish to discover regional forms of expression alongside the landscape and architectural history, this combination of procession and song is one of the town’s distinctive cultural features.

More destinations in Sicily

For further research, the following are also available: Campofelice Di Roccella, Ventimiglia Di Sicilia, Caltavuturo, Scillato, San Giuseppe Jato, Partinico, Giardinello and Torretta are available.

For the higher-level travel overview: Palermo.