5 Best Sights in Castelbuono, Sicily

Castelbuono is located just outside this 80,000-acre regional park of the Madonie Mountains, which means it is a perfect spot to explore the splendid natural reserve. There are walking paths, camping areas, horse-riding, mountain biking, and caving activities to experience. You can even just simply take a scenic drive out into the park for a picnic.

This impressive castle fortress was built in 1316 by the Ventimiglia family. With its four imposing watchtower structures, it was once the center of Castelbuono and helped the town become the administrative and defensive capital of the Ventimiglias' vast kingdom. Later it also became the prestigious residence of the family. In 1684 its interior was renovated to accommodate the family, and a new chapel was added and filled with decorative stucco embellishments. The Ventimiglia family chapel inside the Castello was decorated by Sicilian master sculptures Giuseppe and Giacomo Serpotta and Antonello Gangini.

Yet another beautiful historic church in Castelbuono that is well worth visiting, even for only a moment, Chiesa della Natività di Maria was constructed in the 14th century and is characterized by its typical Sicilian limestone stonework and elegant bell tower. Inside it is filled with delicate pieces of art, but don't miss the one above the central altar. The decorative painted altarpiece, with intricate wooden carved details and paintings of various saints, dominates the church. The images on the polyptych are from the 1500s, created by Antonio di Sabila, the nephew of the famous early Renaissance Sicilian master Antonello da Messina.

Castelbuono's main cathedral, located on the central square of Piazza Margherita, is a 16th-century elegant Romanesque church filled with various religious art and paintings. The Gothic Catalan bell tower reflects a similar Andalusian style to Palermo's Duomo, and it is a prominent feature of the town's landscape.

This local museum is dedicated to several significant historical periods, with the collection divided into three parts. The first and second floors focus on travel and local folk traditions, with many objects and artifacts donated from a personal collection of a local aristocrat who devoted his life to traveling the world. There is also a selection of local folk art and traditions, including Sicilian marionettes and decorative Sicilian carts from the 19th century. The other sections are dedicated to the period of Italian unification in the late 1800s. Another interesting feature of the museum is the actual building it is housed in, which features a historic bell tower and clock dating back to the 1800s; you can climb up and see the intricate clockwork beautifully maintained by the local town council.