Petralia Soprana, district of Palermo, Sicily. In the heart of Madonie Park, it is one of the most enchanting town of Sicily. In 2018 it was nominated “Borgo d’Italia” , an important prize dedicated to the best villages of Italy that stand out for their beauty and livability.
The first settlement, probably named Petra, was built by the Sicanians, before Greek colonization of Sicily. But the origin of actual name is arab, Batraliah, meaning “stone” and “high”. Effectively the town is built on the rocky top of an height dominating the Imera river valley below. After arab domination, the following conquerors, the Normans, renamed the town Petra Heliae, the stone of Elijah the profet.
Walking along the narrow streets of Petralia is a mystical experience. Among the historical buildings, several old churches, fountains, squares and panoramic views will guide your steps on a back in time trip, when people lived in stone houses, walked on stone alleys and prayed in front of stone altars. The village still maintains its original urban medieval structure so it is easy to imagine how life could be inside its linear brick houses.
From Loreto viewpoint you can admire half of Sicily till the Etna on the east side, while from Duomo square in front of your eyes there will be Gangi. The church of Santa Maria di Loreto, the church of San Michele, the Discalces Carmelites convent (today the town hall), the Mother Church of St. Peter and Paul, are only some of the magnificent architectural attraction of the town. Anyway, what is unique to me in Petralia Soprana is the atmosphere you breath almost everywhere in the historical centre, a mix of Sicilian vibes and ancient spirits. Petralia is out of the ordinary tourist itineraries and must be considered a typical alternative destination to those visitors looking for the real soul of Sicily.
The same feelings you’ll experience tasting local food, something difficult to explain by words. Try the “Verdure Maritate” or the “Pasta con la Borragine”, seasonal vegetable soups that maybe are purest example of traditional Sicilian cuisine, or ask for the “Sfoglio”, an exclusive cake of Madonie aerea made with the Sicilian “Tuma” cheese. Try them and then, I’m sure, you’ll understand.
And don’t forget to visit the Salt Mine in the nearby of the town!
Filmed with both Olympus OM-D EM5 MKII and a GoPro Hero 7, with some drone footage of my Mavic Air, this short video has been edited and post-produced with Cyberlink PowerDirector suite 5. All photos are by Francesca Sparatore and her Nikon D3100.
The track “Dust” is by DivKid and is available on RU-vid Audio Library.
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15 сен 2024
