Poggioreale: Piazza, History and Mountain Landscape

Poggioreale combines an unusual town center with historical traces, a mountainous landscape and the Poggioreale Antica settlement, which has once again become accessible. The center of urban life in Poggioreale Nuova is the Nuova Piazza Elimo. The square was designed in 1988 by architect Paolo Portoghesi and features expansive, circular architecture in the neoclassical style. It is intended to recreate an ancient agora. Artistically decorated colonnades with four caryatids by Paolo Borghi also give the square a distinctive architectural detail.

Landscape and Historical Sites

The area around Poggioreale is predominantly mountainous and offers spectacular panoramas with hills and landscapes typical of the Sicilian hinterland. The surroundings are suitable for rural tourism and hiking. This makes the town appealing to travelers who wish to combine cultural discoveries with time spent in a characteristic inland landscape.

Despite the damage caused by the 1968 Belice earthquake and its subsequent abandonment, Poggioreale Antica still preserves a recognizable urban structure. An important current reference point for visiting is June 10, 2026: on this day, Poggioreale storica was reopened to visitors after being closed for years due to unsafe conditions. The historic settlement is therefore one of the places where Poggioreale's history can be seen directly in the surviving structures.

Archaeology and Local Everyday History

The Area Archeologica di Monte Castellazzo in Poggioreale can be visited free of charge by prior arrangement. The Museo Etno-antropologico of Poggioreale, which is affiliated with the municipal library, offers another insight into the town's history. It documents the predominantly agricultural character of the population through tools, equipment and objects from fields, workshops and domestic life.

The museum also preserves the local “vertuli” and “gerle.” In addition, it houses part of the archaeological material from Monte Castellazzo, which has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Thus, within the same cultural setting, both the more recent history of work and everyday life and the area's long history of settlement are brought into focus.

Churches and Historic Buildings

The historic buildings in Poggioreale Antica include the Chiesa di Sant'Antonio da Padova. It is dedicated to the town's patron saint and dates from 1860. The history of the Chiesa Madre goes back to an earlier period: it was formerly the Chiesa del Purgatorio, which dates from 1540, and was solemnly consecrated on November 24, 1697.

Palazzo Morso Principe was the first settlement core of Poggioreale. The building belonged to Marquis Francesco Morso di Gibellina and dates from the 17th century. Casa Agosta also reflects the town's history. The residential building belonged to the Agosta Tamburello family and is particularly significant because of its location near the entrance to the town on Corso Umberto Primo.

Getting There and Choosing Your Focus

From Palermo, Poggioreale can be reached via the A29 toward Mazara del Vallo, taking the Gallitello exit. Another option is to take the Palermo–Sciacca expressway and the Poggioreale exit. When searching for a hotel in Poggioreale, you can therefore first decide whether your stay will focus on the distinctive architecture of the Nuova Piazza Elimo, the historic settlement, archaeological insights, churches or hikes through the hilly landscape.

Compare Other Sicilian Destinations

If you would like to compare Poggioreale with other destinations, you can find Campobello Di Mazara, Guarrato, Selinunte, Santa Ninfa, Salemi, Gibellina, Mazara Del Vallo and Petrosino here.

For the broader travel overview: Trapani.