Castelbuono: the ancient village and its castle

Over the years Castelbuono has become a well-known town, not only in Italy but also internationally. A village that has been able to reinvent itself, preserve and make itself known, thanks to interesting musical events such as Ypsigrock – a festival of independent and alternative rock music that has been held in August for 25 years – and also thanks to the delicious delicacies prepared by Fiasconaro, a famous local confectioner.

The Ventimiglia Castle or Castelbuono Castle is a true symbol for the small medieval village. But what is the history behind this castle and what legends are hidden within its walls?

The castle stands on an ancient Byzantine farmhouse named Ypsigro, which the Ventimiglia family used as a base to build their home. In 1316, work began on the castle by order of Francesco Ventimiglia.

The structure of the castle encompasses all the architectural styles that have characterised Sicily, symbols of the many dominations that have followed one another on the island: the cube-shaped base of the castle recalls the Arab style, the adjacent corner towers recall the Norman style, while the round tower recalls Swabian military constructions. Due to its elevated position above sea level, it is thought that it was initially used as a fortress in order to be able to see the sea attacks of enemies and thus block them in time.

In 1400, the Palatine Chapel was built, which can still be admired today, and where, at the request of Giovanni Ventimiglia, the relics of the skull of St Anne, who later became the patron saint of the village, were kept. The relics are still kept in the Chapel of the Castle, in a purpose-built bust-shaped urn, but can only be seen on St Anne’s Day.

The Castle Chapel, thanks to Francesco Rodrigo Ventimiglia, became even more beautiful and a symbol of the Baroque art of the artists who took care of the marvellous interior decoration: Giuseppe and Giovanni Serpotta.

In 1920 the castle risked being sold, but thanks to a fundraising campaign organised by the citizens, it was bought by the municipality of Castelbuono and in the following years transformed into a Civic Museum.

Like any self-respecting castle, the castle of Castelbuono is shrouded in mystery and a legend linked to the presence of a ghost. Legend has it that the ghost of Costanza Chiaramonte, the first wife of Francesco Ventimiglia, still haunts the rooms of the castle. She was locked up forever in one of the rooms of the castle until her death. It is said that she does not pass through the walls, but goes from room to room by opening the doors. Is this true? You can tell us after you have visited the castle!

The holly forest
Situated inside the Madonie Park, the town of Castelbuono is surrounded by natural beauties that are not indifferent, immersed in an environment surrounded by lush green forests. One place you should definitely visit on your stopover in Castelbuono is the Giant Holly Wood, the only one in the whole of Sicily.

It is also known as the “natural cathedral” due to the majesty of its hollies, which are up to 14 metres high. This wood also holds a not inconsiderable record: in fact, it is the only European wood to host such tall hollies.

It’s certainly a magical place to visit and you’ll feel as if you’re walking through an idyllic world embraced by these majestic trees. And who knows, you might even meet a fairy hiding in the trees, as the legends tell us.

The historical centre and the delicacies of Castelbuono
Castelbuono is not just about the castle, the entire historic centre of the small village deserves to be appreciated. Perhaps you could do so by following the itinerary of the “passiata castelbuonese” proposed by the website Castelbuono.org, which will take you to the unmissable places in the town, such as the 16th-century fountain in Piazza Santa Margherita, where you can sit and enjoy delicious sweets, including the famous panettone made by master pastry chef Nicola Fiasconaro, and which will finally take you to admire the beautiful fountain of Venus Ciprea.

Fiasconaro and its internationally renowned products
Everyone, at least once during the Christmas period, will have tasted a slice of the delicious panettone produced by master pastry chef Nicola Fiasconaro. Perhaps not everyone knows that the history of Fiasconaro’s delicacies originated in Castelbuono. In fact, it was there in 1953 that the small Fiasconaro ice-cream parlour was founded, which over the years has reinvented itself, making its delicacies known all over the world.
Panettone with manna, pistachios from Bronte and chocolate from Modica are just some of the ingredients provided by the territory that Nicola Fiasconaro has been able to enhance, bringing a little bit of Sicily to the world.

Do you think you can leave Castelbuono without tasting a piece of Fiasconaro Panettone? We don’t think so, it’s a delicious stop not to be missed!

How to reach Castelbuono?
Castelbuono is easy to reach by car, whether you are coming from Palermo, Catania or Messina: from Palermo, for example, just follow the A19 motorway, continue along the Palermo-Messina A20 and finally exit at the junction indicating “Castelbuono”. From Palermo or Catania, all you need to do is rent a car from Sicily Rent Car, perhaps a Fiat 500X, in order to travel with peace of mind and with all the space you need, whether you are alone or in company. If you are wondering where to leave your car, don’t worry, because behind the Castle you will find a large public car park where you can park, and then continue on foot into the village.

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit one of the most fascinating villages of the Madonie: all you have to do is rent a car with SRC – Sicily Rent Car and set off to discover Castelbuono. Do not hesitate to contact us for info and reservations, just send an email to booking@sicilyrentcar.it, call 091203374 or come and visit us in one of our rental points in Palermo, Catania, Cinisi, Trapani, Comiso, Milazzo and Pisa.