Page 127 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

SOUTHWESTERN SICIL Y  125

del Municipio, with the Santa
Chiara Convent, now the Town
Hall, and the Teatro Regina
Margherita, founded in 1879 by
Dionisio Sciascia. Further up the
hill, at the far end of the steps, is
the Sanc tuary of Santa Maria
del Monte, where an important
annual festival is held on 11–14
July. Inside the sanctuary is a
statue of the Virgin Mary from
1503. Other churches worth
visiting are the Carmelite (with
canvases by Pietro D’Asaro), the
Itria and San Giuliano, which
was once the chapel of the
Sant’Agostino Convent. A short
walk from the centre takes you to
Piazza Fontana, with a stone
drinking trough, and, further
along, Piazza San Francesco,
The characteristic stone trough at Piazza Fontana, in Racalmuto where there is the monastery
complex of the Conventual friars,
9 Mussomeli fortification. For centuries the rebuilt in the 1600s.
growth of the town went hand
Road map C3. * 11,000. n 0934-
961 111. Castello Manfredonico: in hand with the development q Naro
Tel 0934-992 009 Open summer: of various monastic orders
9:30am–noon, 3:30–6pm daily; winter: (Carmelite, Franciscan, Minor and Road map C4. * 8,000. n Pro Loco
9:30am–noon daily. Closed Mon. Augustines), but the place still (0922-953 021/009).
∑ comunedimussomeli.it bears traces of the typical Arab
layout marked by courtyards Naro lies on a hill in the middle
In the 14th century, Manfredi III and alleys. For centuries of a water-rich area. Its name
Chiaramonte founded the town Racalmuto thrived on the mining derives from ancient Greek and
of Mussomeli and the large of rock salt and sulphur. The Arab origins – the Greek word
fortress that still towers over town is also the birthplace of for river is naron, and nahr is the
what has since become a author Leonardo Sciascia (see Arab translation of the same.
large agricultural centre. The p27). Today it is a famous agri- A “resplendent” royal city
castle, called Manfredano or cultural centre, especially known during the reign of Frederick II
Chiaramontano in honour of for its dessert grapes. Hohenstaufen, it was fortified at
its founder and built over the In the middle of town, in Piazza different times. Besides the
remains of a Hohenstaufen Umberto I, is the 17th-century Baroque churches and the
fortification, was altered in the Chiesa Madre dell’Annunziata, remains of monasteries, there
15th century by the Castellar its interior decorated with lavish are the ruins of the medieval
family. It has a second walled stucco, as well as San Giuseppe Chiaramonte castle, which is
enclosure in the interior as well and the ruins of the 13th-century always closed, 14th-century
as the Sala dei Baroni, with Chiaramonte castle (closed to Santa Caterina and the
noteworthy portals. From the the public). Steps lead to Piazza 16th-century Chiesa Madre.
outer walls there are panoramic
views of the valleys and hills of
the interior of the island.

0 Racalmuto
Road map C4. * 9,000. V from
Catania and Palermo (via Caltani-
ssetta). n Town Hall (0922-940 043).
The town of Racalmuto (the
name derives from the Arab
rahalmut, or destroyed hamlet)
was founded by Federico
Chiaramonte, head of the
powerful Sicilian Chiara monte
family, over an existing The Chiaramonte castle at Naro, built in the 14th century

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