The Madonie Park is a paradise immersed in green, unspoiled nature that stretches over a vast area of north-central Sicily, where the mountain system of the same name winds.
Its mountains were formed about 200 million years ago and are among the oldest on the island; the first lands to emerge, the result of contouring due to the movement of the land and sea.
The northern side is characterized by deep valleys that dive cliff-like towards the sea; the clay hills on the south side that connect the mountain complex with the chalky-sulphurous plateau that turns towards Caltanissetta.
The Park is home to the UNESCO Global Geopark, one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Mediterranean, and of particular interest both from a geological and geomorphological point of view. It boasts a biodiversity of immense wealth, among which animal varieties belonging to rare species of Italian and European fauna stand out.
The towns that belong to the Madonie Park are: Caltavuturo, Castelbuono, Castellana Sicula, Cefalù, Collesano, Geraci Siculo, Gratteri, Isnello, Petralia Soprana, Petralia Sottana, Polizzi generosa, Pollina, San Mauro Castelverde, Scillato, and Sclafani Bagni.
Here the must-see attractions.
Don’t miss
The Geopark of the Madonie
A UNESCO site made up of Dolomite limestone that is suggestive of unknown worlds, it has a history of over 220 million years and preserves interesting morphological traces of Sicilian geology. Located in the central part of the Sicilian Apennine, it is an exceptional area of study thanks to an extraordinarily rich and rare natural heritage.
Petralia Soprana
Declared the most beautiful village in Italy for 2018, it is the highest town in the Madonie and stands on a beautiful hill. A beautiful small stone village where you can admire the Norman Castle, one of the main attractions, and the Convent of the Frati Minori Riformati, a majestic 17th-century building that includes a cloister, a beautiful Baroque church and a charming park.
Polizzi Generosa
It is a village of ancient origins, with archaeological sites of great historical and artistic value, including necropolises. The beautiful Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is a must. Inside, there is the magnificent Flemish triptych, a collection of works of sacred art that portrays the Virgin with Child, and the Urn of San Gandolfo.
Cefalù
Located along the northern coast of Sicily, on the edge of the Madonie Park in the province of Palermo, it is a real gem recognised as one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. A seaside town par excellence, it offers enchanting landscapes and beaches to live on. The old town is a treasure trove of wonders, but it is the Cathedral, a fascinating testament to Arab-Norman architecture, that stands out.
