The best road cycling routes around Valledolmo

Polizzi Generosa is a charming medieval village perched on the slopes of the Madonie Mountains, known for its Arab-Norman origins and rich historical heritage. Strolling through its narrow stone streets, you can admire ancient churches, Renaissance palaces, and splendid views of the Imera Valley and the distant sea.

Excerpts from Wiki... "The site on which the town of Polizzi Generosa stands has been frequented since the 6th century BC. It was a prosperous Arab center for almost two centuries. The toponym Polizzi, of Greek origin (at least Byzantine), derives from a compound toponym ending in Polis (city), as emerged from Norman documentation which presents the spellings Polis, Polic, etc., Latinized in Politium and Policium. The name "Generosa" was granted by Frederick II, impressed by the excellent welcome he received. In 1863 with RD n. 1218, this denomination was made official."

Municipality of around 3,000 inhabitants located in the southern area of the Madonie park, Polizzi Generosa is known for the sfoglio, a typical dessert invented in the 16th century by the Benedictine nuns in honor of the feast of San Benedetto, and for being the only municipality in the area to boast specimens of fir trees. Worth visiting here are the church of Santa Maria Assunta and the abbey of Santa Croce, inside which there are some Byzantine frescoes.

Villalba is a Sicilian town with Spanish origins, known for the production of tomatoes and lentils. It has an ancient history and some historical monuments, such as the Mother Church dedicated to San Giuseppe, and the Palazzo Ducale.

Beautiful sanctuary with an imposing facade dedicated to the Madonna dei Miracoli, patroness of the city venerated on 8 and 15 September each year.

beautiful castle perched on a rocky outcrop just below the town of Mussomeli. It is said that the manor was built in just three years, between 1364 and 1367, on a previous Swabian fort, by order of Manfredi III of Chiaramonte, Duke of Modica, conquered by its location on an inaccessible hill that made it strategic from a military point of view. The fortress was at the center of an event that went down in history as the "Sala dei Baroni", which we are going to tell you about. Frederick III of Aragon, formally king of Trinacria (1355-1377), governed by establishing good relations with the notables of the island and, to do this, in 1374 he was a guest of Chiaramonte at the castle of Mussomeli with his daughter Maria of Sicily or of Aragon who, upon the death of her father, in 1377, still a minor, inherited the crown of Trinacria (1377-1401). Flanked by 4 vicars, Artale Alagona, Guglielmo Peralta, Francesco Ventimiglia and Manfredi Chiaramonte, she saw them clash because while Alagona intended to marry her to Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the powerful duke of Milan, Ventimiglia instead sided with the Aragonese prince Martino, future king of Aragon and Sicily. In the end, the latter, having the young ruler kidnapped, now compromised, thanks to the help of Guglielmo Raimondo Moncada, managed to marry her. This marital union, born with deception, was, however, disapproved by Pope Boniface IX, Alagona and Manfredi Chiaramonte who gathered in a room of the castle, from that moment on called the "Barons' Hall", the notables of the Island trying to convince them, but without success, of the illegitimacy of that marriage. When Martin the Elder Duke of Montblanc of Aragon, landed in Sicily in 1392, had himself crowned, in the cathedral of Palermo, king of Trinacria, the only ones who did not accept it were Artale Alagona and Manfredi Chiaramonte, who, as punishment, had all their assets confiscated, partly attributed to the Moncada family, loyal, instead, to the Aragonese.

An artificial lake 638 meters above sea level.

The Castle of Mussomeli, also known as Castello Manfredonico, was built starting from 1366 at the behest of Manfredi III of Chiaramonte, Count of Modica. Although there are no traces, it is believed that the same area was previously occupied by an Arab fortification. The castle is built on a limestone cliff and is considered one of the best examples of the Chiaramontian style, a current of Gothic developed in Sicily during the domination of the Chiaramonte. Every year, towards the end of August, the castle comes alive with characters in medieval clothes for the traditional feast of the Ancient Castle fair.