Castelbuono Travel Guide

Like all of the cities situated in the Parco delle Madonie, Castelbuono is surrounded by silence and by the nature of an island that never ceases to surprise in quantity and variety, and that has the capacity to inebriate the traveler turning his eyes from the sea to the mountain passages not far in the distance.

The castle, built in 1316 for Francesco I Ventimiglia, is the best way to begin a visit to the city: inside you will discover profane histories of opulence, noble secrets and torture combined with the sacredness of the relics of Sant’Anna, the patron of the city. From there by foot you can reach the city center in a few minutes, with its antique churches and delightful viewpoints from which you can see the forests of oak, chestnut, cherry and ash trees that form a protective barrier around the city.

There are many typical products of Castelbuono that you will want to taste during your travels, including the mannetto cake, good homemade bread with the local cheeses and salami, and above all the fresh mushrooms found in the Parco delle Madonie.

10 Things to See and Do
The Castle dei Ventimiglia and the Civic Museum
Church of the Matrice Vecchia
Church of the Matrice Nuova
Church of San Francesco
Typical dinner of the Parco delle Madonie area including fresh pasta, wild game sauce and fresh mushrooms from the woods
Tasting of mannetto cake and Prickly Pear Liqueur at a bar in Piazza Margherita
Fountain of Venus
Guided visit to the frassineto da manna
Excursion to the Parco delle Madonie with its centuries old oak trees and giant holly
Church of Sant’Antonino and its precious wooden cross

Events in Castelbuono
July
The festival of Sant’Anna, patron of the city, lasts ten days during which almost every evening the devout fill the streets with processions through the historic neighborhoods. Particularly impressive is the procession of children carrying paper lanterns called “coppi,” following the rest of the participants in bare feet. The final day, which falls on July 27th, is the most moving and impressive: at nine in the evening the long Solemn Procession begins from the Castle. Hundreds of the faithful, first among them the members of the 20 confraternities lead by the masciu massaru, are lined up in a row and lit on the summer evening by innumerable candles.
The procession moves slowly bearing reliquaries and sculptures covered showered in gold and flowers, their bare feet on the stones showing the sacrifice and following the rhythm of the drum from the band. The celebration ends with a firework display that just barely covers the shouts of Viva a Matri Sant'Anna.
August
Castelbuono not only offers nature and traditions, but also a good annual dose of new musical and cultural trends in the l’Ypsigrock Festival. The name is a fusion of Ypsigro, an old Byzantine district of the city, and the word rock. Now more than ten years old, the festival attracts every year a great number of people interested and passionate about indie music. On the stage, which has the beautiful Castle for a backdrop, are presented important artists from the international music scene and young emerging selected musicians. During the event a camping area is set up in the heart of the Parco delle Madonie, and is available to those who want to stay overnight.

Castelbuono's typical food and drink
Testa di Turco
A typical dish of Carnival time, the Testa di Turco is a local dessert made with cream and puff pastry. Popular tradition tells us that it was created to celebrate the end of the domination of the Arabs when they were defeated by the Normans.
Contea di Sclafani DOC Red Wine
With an intense ruby color and a fruity perfume with the scent of cinnamon and vanilla, this wine produced in the area of the Parco delle Madonie is an ideal accompaniment for the local cooking traditions featuring roasts, cheeses and well-seasoned first courses.

Spotlight on The Giant Holly of the Piano Pomo
This is one of the most interesting nature itineraries of the Parco delle Madonie, which is possible on your own or with a local guide allowing you to explore more deeply into the zone. After an initial car trip, the clearing called the Piano Pomo is reachable on foot by following a striking path under live oak trees, downy oaks and beech trees. There are many panoramic points providing inspiration for innumerable photographs, and from which, if the sky is clear, you can just make out the peak of Mt. Etna. The giant holly, among the highest in Europe and many centuries old, are a recognizable in a dark green grove, impenetrable by the sun. They are most beautiful in the autumn when speckled with the red fruit typical of these bushes.

How to arrive
Castelbuono is located in a valley on the slopes of the “Milocca Hill” in northern Sicily. Its position makes it reachable from the three principal Sicilian cities of Palermo, Messina and Catania.
By plane: The nearest airport is Palermo, which is about an hour and a half by car from Castelbuono. From the airport there are frequent train and bus connections to the central station of Palermo where you can continue by the same means to Castelbuono. The airport of Palermo is well served from Ryanair.
By car:
Highways A19 – A20:
From Palermo to Catania, from Palermo to Messina. Palermo, the capital of Sicily, is located about 50 minutes from Castelbuono: Following the A19, after 40 km continue on the A20 until the exit for Castelbuono. Continue on S.S. 286 for the last 14 km until you reach the city center.
Highway A20:
From Messina to Palermo. The distance from Messina is about two hours: Following the A20, after 130 km take the exit for Castelbuono. Continue on S.S. 286 for the last 14 km until you reach the city center.
Highways A19 – A20:
From Catania to Palermo, from Palermo to Messina. The distance from Catania is about two hours and fifteen minutes: Take the A18 – E45 and continue for about 6.2 km until reaching the exit for Catania Sud (south). Follow the A19 for about 148 km and then take the exit for Buonfornello and follow the road to Cefalù. Follow the signs for the A20 and exit at Castelbuono. Continue on S.S. 286 for the last 14 km until you reach the city center.
By boat: The nearest ports are Palermo, which provides daily connections with Genoa, Cagliari, Livorno, Porto Torres and Naples, and Cefalù, from which it is possible to reach the Aeolian Islands from June 1st to September 16th.
Other: The nearest train station is located in Cefalù where you can continue in 30 minutes by bus to the center of Castelbuono. Daily bus connections are also scheduled from Palermo.