Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To reach Petralia Soprana from Petralia Sottana, drive up Corso Paolo Agliata to Piazza
Umberto and follow the winding narrow road leading uphill through the arch at the right-
hand side of the Chiesa Madre, veering right at the first fork.
PARKING
There is limited free car parking in Piazza del Popolo. Alternatively, park on the side of
the road leading uphill into town.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Petralia Sottana
POP 2960 / ELEV 1000M
Below Petralia Soprana, the town of Petralia Sottana (from the Italian
sotto,
meaning 'un-
der') is the gateway to the regional park and the headquarters of the
Ente Parco delle Madonie
(
0921 68 40 11; Corso Paolo Agliata 16; 8am-2pm & 3-7pm Mon-Fri, 3-7pm Sat, 10.30am-1pm & 4.30-7pm
Sun)
. The park office, located in the foyer of the Museo Civico Antonio Collisani, supplies
maps and walking itineraries for the Madonie along with brochures and information about
Petralia Sottana itself.
Sights & Activities
Petralia Sottana is dominated by its main street, Corso Paolo Agliata, which is a popular
shopping strip during the day and hosts the town's surprisingly busy
passeggiata
(evening
stroll) in the early evening. Like Petralia Soprana, the town possesses a number of hand-
some churches, including the baroque
Chiesa di San Francesco
on the Corso and the 17th-cen-
tury
Chiesa Madre
at the end of the Corso on Piazza Umberto. The
campanile
of the latter is
the town's major landmark. On the road leading to Petralia Soprana is the
Chiesa di Santis-
sima Trinità alla Badia
, which has a handsome marble altarpiece carved by Giandomenico
Gagini.
Museo Civico Antonio Collisani
( 0921 64 18 11;
www.comune.petraliasottana.pa.it
;
Corso Paolo Agliata 100; adult/reduced €2/1; 8am-2pm &
3-7pm Mon-Fri, 3-7pm Sat, 10.30am-1pm & 4.30-7pm Sun)
Focusing on the archaeology and geology of
the Madonie, this small but interesting museum has an impressive display of fossils found
in the area and is worth a short visit. There's also an excellent education centre for young
children (resources in Italian only).
MUSEUM
