Discovering "Le Petralia", Petralia Sottana and Soprana, Castel di Lucio, Gangi and Mistretta.

The very first stop of the second day is the little town of Petralia Sottana. Certain historical information on the existence of the two Petralia, Soprana and Sottana, dates back only in 1258 when Manfredi, son of Emperor Frederick II, conferred the investiture of the County of Collesano to Enrico, count of the Ventimiglia family. The two Petralie, merged into the barony of the Petralie, lived the events of the Ventimiglia, both in the unification of the two Counties, Geraci and Collesano, and in their separation. In 1444 Pietro Cardona, son of the first viceroy of Sicily, became the lord of both villages. Finally, with the marriage of the widow Moncada di Paternò with the Duke of Montalto, Petralia is almost at the center of an immense heritage that went from San Mauro, Collesano, Geraci, Caltanissetta to Paternò (near Catania).

The Mother Church in Petralia Sottana is located in the ancient "Pusterna", a district overlooking piazza Umberto. It is the main Catholic place of worship in Petralia Sottana, but undoubtedly the largest church in the Madonie, belonging to the diocese of Cefalù; it is the seat of the Maria Santissima Assunta parish, full of artworks and baroque frescos. Between them, is notable the wooden statue of the Patron San Calogero, artwork of Frate Umile da Petralia, a very famous sculptor if 16th century.

Of a great beauty is the Badia or Church of the Holy Trinity, built around 16th century, annexed to a former cloister. Inside you will admire a great icona, showing episodes from Jesus' life.

You will then pass to the village of Petralia Soprana, which is the highest municipality in the Madonie. The town is included in the club of the most beautiful villages in Italy and has been proclaimed "Borgo dei borghi 2018" (meaning "the most beautiful village in Italy").

Here, in Piazza Duomo, a typical medieval square, you can see another Mother Church, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved medieval churches in Sicily: the Mother Church of Petralia Soprana, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, a place of worship! Between two bel towers (one dating to 15th century the second one to 18th) stands also a great portico. Again, inside, you will admire a second wooden crucifix by Frate Umile.

This is a great point from which you we can admire the beauty of Petralia Soprana!

At noon you will move to the beautiful village of Gangi! Probably here there was a Roman settlement, but the current medieval one dated back to 1300. In the time the village was rebuilt on the actual site on Monte Marone, after its destruction in the course of the Sicilian Vespers war, as part of the county of Geraci. In 1625 it was acquired by the Graffeo family who, in 1629, became Princes of Gangi. In 1677 the Valguarnera family became the owner of the land. Your first stop here is for lunch! Then, you'll discover this town, which is - as Petralia Soprana - part of the club of the most beautiful villages in Italy and has been proclaimed "Borgo dei borghi 2014".

You will have lunch in the beautiful Sant'Anna restaurant, where you can eat typical and traditional plates. I suggest to have Sant'Anna macaroni and grilled meat!!!

This is one of the most famous monuments in all the Madonie area and over: the Ventimiglia tower, which is now connected to the Church and it's of a great beauty! The tower presents a refined style divided into three architectural orders and it is topped by an eighteenthcentury clock, which is embodied in the Church of St. Nicholas (the Cathedral of Gangi). This church, built by the Knights of Jerusalem, hosts the works of the “Zoppo” (cripple) of Gangi, a known local artist and author of many other works, also published in neighboring towns. However, the identity of the “Zoppo” is still unknown.

You will also visit the Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit.

You will then move to the little town of Castel Lucio, to see one of the contemporary land art monuments of the Fiumara d'Arte open air contemporary museum.

The Labyrinth of Arianna is one of the most beautiful and impressive contemporary land artworks of the Fiumara d'Arte open air museum! You will have the opportunity to admire this beautiful labyrinth; the work is in red-patinated concrete and that is why it has that color similar to terracotta. To create it, the sculptor Lanfredini used the material in an unusual way. It was not, in fact, polished by tools. To transform and erode it, it was the natural agents, that is the sun, the rain and the wind. Visitors also influence this, contributing (even unwittingly) to shape it with their passage. The labyrinth is not just a "physical" path. It is, in fact, also an inner journey, to be done all at once.

At the end of the day, you will move to Mistretta, which is at the beginning, on its western side, of the Nebrodi Park. Mistretta has a great medieval layout: we know that in 1101, a village was colonised by Norman who created part of the current old town centre. There are important holy places here, between them the Mother Church of St Lucy, built in the 12th century; the Church of St. Sebastian, erected in the 16th century; the Church St. Francis, built in the 16th century; the Church of St. Catherine, erected in the 15th century. Mistretta is the seat of the Regional Museum of Local Traditions “Giuseppe Cocchiara” where a collection of ancient art and craft objects are displayed.

Here you can finally have a great dinner! Taste the antipasti, which are very traditional, and meat...and the genuine homemade cannoli!

Instead on the second day you will sleep in the bed and breakfasts "Al centro casa vacanze".