CASTELBUONO, AUTHENTIC VILLAGE OF ITALY IN THE MADONIE PARK

With the mountains on one side and the coast of Cefalù on the other, Castelbuono stands out among the Authentic Villages of Italy within the Madonie Park for its incredible blend of historical traces and contemporary attractions that coexist harmoniously here.
Nestled in a lush valley at the foothills of Colle Milocca, the town of Castelbuono is about a 30-minute drive from Insulae Resort and it boasts a millennia-old history, shaped by encounters between civilizations, as told through its artifacts, monuments, the architecture of its buildings and the traditions and reenactments that continue to bring it to life today.
The mild climate and altitude of this area, known in byzantine times by the ancient toponym
Ypsigro, have made it a particularly favorable region for settlements since the neolithic period. The ancient sicani, followed by the greeks, romans, arabs and byzantines, have succeeded one another in the area, leaving significant traces of their presence in the remains of necropolises, the discoveries of household and military tools and the ruins of ancient buildings.

But it is to the family of the Mentimiglia marquises that the birth and development of the modern town of Castelbuono must be attributed. In the early 1300s, the Lords of Geraci had their castle built here, transforming the county into a true center of attraction, also thanks to the passage over the centuries of numerous artists and intellectuals, such as Torquato Tasso and the Serpotta brothers. The latter are responsible for the enchanting stuccoes on the walls and ceilings of the Palatine Chapel in the Castle of Sant’Anna.

The Castle of the Ventimiglia marquises, now the Civic Museum, is a must-visit destination for both pilgrims and art lovers crossing the Madonie mountains. In addition to the magnificent blend of arab, swabian, and norman elements, result of the many dominations that have shaped all of Sicily, it houses a precious reliquary containing the skull of Saint Anne, the patroness of the town. The skull rests surrounded by four beautiful allegories, featuring putti, drapery, and zoomorphic figures against golden backgrounds is displayed to the public from july 25th to 27th during the annual patronal feast.