Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 0921 67 12 11; Piazza Castello; adult/reduced €4/2; 9.30am-1pm & 3.30-7pm Tue-Sun)
Originally
known as the
Castello del Buon Aere
(Castle of Good Air), the enormous castle that soars
above Castelbuono's golden patchwork of houses gave the town its name and is its most
distinctive landmark. Built by Francesco I Ventimiglia in 1316, it features displays on loc-
al archaeology and Castelbuono's history.
Popular legend has it that the castle is haunted by the 14th-century Queen Constance
Chiaramonte, who is said to run along the corridors, regular as clockwork, on the first
Tuesday of the month. At the heart of the fortress is the Cappella di Sant'Anna (Chapel of
St Anne), which dates from 1683 and is decorated with marvellous stucco-work from the
school of renowned Sicilian sculptor Giacomo Serpotta. It houses the supposed skull of
the saint in a silver urn.
Museo Naturalistico Francesco
Minà Palumbo
( 0921 67 71 74;
www.museominapalumbo.it
; Via Roma 72; adult €2, under10yr or 65+ €1; 9am-1pm &
3.30-7.30pm)
Named after the naturalist Francesco Min à Palumbo (1837-99), this unassum-
ing museum is housed in the former convent of Santa Venera. It's home to a collection of
artefacts that gives an exhaustive insight into the botany, natural history, minerals and ar-
chaeology of the Madonie mountains.
MUSEUM
Eating
Castelbuono's rustic regional cuisine showcases fruits of the Madonie such as
funghi di
bosco
(forest mushrooms) and
cinghiale
(wild boar).
PASTRIES & CAKES
€
Fiasconaro
( 0921 67 12 31;
www.fiasconaro.com
; Piazza Margherita 10; pastries from €1; 6.30am-midnight Thu-Tue)
Home of the local speciality,
mannetto
(manna cake), this much-loved
pasticceria
on the
main road leading to the castle is also packed with treats such as buttery
cornetti
(crois-
sants), decadently sweet
cassata siciliana
(sponge cake with cream, marzipan, chocolate
and candied fruit) and the unusual
testa di Turco
(Turk's head; blancmange with puff
pastry in the middle). Its home-made
gelato
is also very good.
The
pasticceria
is on one side of the road and the Fiasconaro cafe is opposite - it's per-
fectly acceptable to purchase your sweet treat at the
pasticceria
and take it to the cafe.
A Rua Fera
PIZZERIA, SICILIAN
€
