Castellana Sicula: Murals, Trails and Cultural Heritage

Castellana Sicula lies within the Madonie Park and combines experiences in nature with an unusually rich cultural history. Because of its colorful modern murals, the municipality is known as the “City of Murals.” At the same time, trails lead through Mediterranean vegetation to historic religious buildings and archaeological sites. Castellana Sicula therefore offers a range of opportunities for a trip in which active days, discoveries and local traditions can be enjoyed side by side.

Hiking amid water, rock and the Madonie landscape

One particularly varied way to explore the landscape is the G7 geological trail, “Le pietre e l’acqua.” In the Castellana Sicula area, it runs from Mulino Petrolito to Cozzo Morto and combines natural-history and geological features with traces of human activity. The trail is 2.228 kilometers long, takes about two hours in the direction of the destination and one hour on the return journey, and is rated difficulty level E. Numerous trails for various activities also start from the developed Piano Mulino area. Near the mountain spring stands an old, disused watermill, adding a visible testimony to past use to the scenic trail.

The challenging Trail 553 begins in Borgata Nociazzi near Castellana Sicula. It alternates between sections through Mediterranean vegetation and wide views over the Southern Imera Valley, leading to the Santuario Madonna dell’Alto, a religious building dating from the 15th century. MTB3 also connects several characteristic points: it runs from Castellana Sicula through the hamlet of Nociazzi to the developed area above Mulino Petrolito, passes through a beech forest to Fontana Madonna dell’Alto, and then reaches the final ascent to the Santuario Madonna dell’Alto at an altitude of 1,827 meters.

Archaeology and churches in Castellana Sicula

The Museo Civico is located in the archaeological area of Contrada Muratore. Its ethnographic and archaeological section contains finds from the excavations at Muratore, as well as further finds from archaeological surface surveys at Cozzo del Morto, Cozzo Zara, Monte Rotola Vecchia and Cozzo Re. These finds attest to prehistoric human settlement at the sites mentioned. The museum also contains objects and tools from the local farming culture, as well as a special collection of taxidermied animals preserved in formalin.

The Muratore area contains a necropolis with three hypogea carved entirely into the rock. The excavations also uncovered the settlement area and the public area of a probable pagus from the Roman imperial period. The site includes a multi-lobed thermal complex with adjoining rooms arranged around a small courtyard, a high-quality paved floor and a well-preserved passageway. The Roman baths form a building measuring 19 × 20 meters and are among the few examples from the Roman period excavated to date in Sicily.

In Calcarelli, a hamlet of Castellana Sicula, the Chiesa di San Giuseppe is distinguished by an old pipe organ that is still used during services. The church’s ceiling and walls are painted. In Frazzucchi stands the Chiesetta Madonna della Catena, dating from 1909. On the first Sunday in July, the residents of Calcarelli make a pilgrimage to the Santuario Madonna dell’Alto; the religious building is therefore not only a destination on Trail 553 and MTB3, but is also connected with a local religious tradition.

Crafts, food and festivals

The local character is also reflected in traditional crafts, including baskets and carrying baskets made from willow branches and strips of reeds, as well as saddles, bisaccia bags, crochet work and lace embroidery. Handcrafted foods include bread, amaretti made from bitter almonds, cheesecake and oven-baked cassata.

During the “Manciari di San Giuseppi” on March 19, communal tables are set with local and typical dishes, including pasta with beans, cod, fried cardoons and sfinge, sugared fritters. The “Carnevale delle Madonie” normally takes place on the Sunday before Shrove Tuesday and includes a parade with allegorical floats and masked groups. In August, the local folk group performs the “Ballo della Cordella,” an old fertility and thanksgiving dance with 24 dancers. Each dancer holds the end of a ribbon whose other end is attached to the top of a three-meter-high pole.

Connection to the SS120

The SS120 state road connects Castellana Sicula directly with the nearby motorway. Other places: Camporeale, Corleone, Santa Cristina Gela, Pollina, Pioppo, Castelbuono, Villabate and Terrasini.

To the main travel overview: Palermo.