If you are ready to explore one of the oldest and most characteristic villages in the Madonie region, still relatively unknown to mass tourism, you should choose this itinerary to discover the history and legends of Gratteri.
The meeting point is scheduled at Belvedere Ganci Battaglia, where one of our storytellers will welcome you and accompany you throughout this fascinating journey.
However, before we begin our tour, it is customary to take a photo at Belvedere to capture the breathtaking view of the Tyrrhenian coast, where, on clearer days, you can even catch a glimpse of the Aeolian Islands.
Gratteri has been nicknamed the "terrace overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea" for a reason.
We will begin with a lovely walk, from the Ecce Homo bridge to Portella Carruba, named after the presence of a carob tree, which is already mentioned in sources from the 1500s.
From there, you can admire a bucolic scenery, resembling a nativity scene, with lush pastures in front of the charming church of the 12th-century Convent.
In the distance, you will have a view of the entire valley up to Mount San Calogero, which overlooks the Gulf of Termini Imerese.
Next, we will visit the historical environmental museum of the Municipality, recently restored, and located on a hill from where you can see what remains of the oldest neighbourhood, originally called "Terra Vecchia" and now known as Conigliera, with its walls perched above the "Bocca dell'Inferno" (Mouth of Hell).
While strolling through the narrow streets of the village, we will walk along the main street until we reach the fountain of the Nymph, located in a small park in front of the Mother Church.
We will tell you the story of that stone shell, like the one found in the nearby Grattàra Cave, which could be considered the Genius Loci of the ancient village "dei crateri" (of the craters).
The first church to visit is the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo, which houses miraculous relics from Jerusalem and valuable works of art from different eras.
After a small break to let you taste the local products from the local shops, we will take you to the small church of San Giacomo, the patron saint of Gratteri, which houses the beautiful statue of the Apostle, revered with great devotion by the people of Gratteri.
Near the neighbourhood of the same name, you will also find the house of the poet and a typical stone architecture for collecting rainwater, known as "u cabbubbu".
From Vicolo San Giacomo, we will then move to the district of Via Fiume, where we will show you the three medieval bridges and an underground cistern, the well of Fantina, covered during the post-war period to make the path suitable for vehicles.
Underneath Via Fiume, in fact, there still flows today an underground stream, the Crati, which, descending from Pizzo di Pilo, crosses the village dividing it into two parts, the old part from the new one.
From Piazzetta Ponte Silvio, we will take Salita Orologio, which until the year 1900 was called Via dei Saraceni (Street of the Saracens).
In this neighbourhood, you can notice a circular house with a single structure, recently renovated, which still preserves a portal with a rounded arch, typical of the early Arab dwellings.
This is the last house with its original architecture, which can now be called the "House of a Thousand Years".
According to the information reported by Arab historians Bauijan and Inb-Hawqal, later expanded by Amari, it appears that Gratteri, along with Cefalù, Brucato, and Marineo, was conquered by the Saracens around 835-838.
They managed to enter the castle of Qratiris, which they called Hottirisch, through an ancient gateway to the fortress, still popularly known today as Dammuso, certainly one of the most evocative points of medieval Gratteri.
From the Saraceni district, we will move to the old Bucciria, Petra, and Santa districts, which have recently been reconstructed through ongoing studies. We will then reach the Clock Tower, which, with its 100 chimes, is one of the most significant symbols for the local inhabitants.
Just ahead, we will lean over the rocky embankment of the stream to tell you the legendary story of Macigna.
At this point, passing through the ancient districts of Porta Grande, Terra Vecchia, and Nostra Donna, we will find ourselves in front of the Vecchia Matrice, built around the first half of the 14th century next to the ancient castle of the Ventimiglia princes.
In the main altar, the Madonna with Child now reigns, a work of the Gagini school and originating from the Norman church of the Rosario.
In the ancient rear apse, there are two interesting funerary monuments in mixed marbles, inside of which rest the remains of Maria Filangeri, wife of Lorenzo Ventimiglia (†1650), and her grandson Gaetano, Prince of Belmonte (†1744).
On the right wall, you can still see what was once an opening that directly connected to the rooms of the Barons within the perimeter of their castle.
We will then show you Via Arcarìa, a hidden alley behind a stone watering trough, where the prisons were located at the foot of the ancient fortress. This place is known for the dark story of Don Antonio Ventimiglia, who imprisoned the Bishop of Cefalù, Niccolò De Burellis, and found him lifeless, kneeling with his eyes towards the sky.
Our journey will continue towards the "Passo della Scala," where the Via dei Promestratensi begins, leading to the Norman Abbey of San Giorgio.
From that viewpoint, the landscape is picturesque, like a postcard.
As you gaze over the Carapé cliff, you will learn about the history of the talismans of the women of Scala and the story of the Souls in Purgatory, depicted in the votive shrines housed within the small church of the Crucifix.
From there, we will take a new road carved entirely into the rock at the end of the 20th century, called Parisèa, named after the story, told by the dialect poet Ciccu Di Maria, inspired by a true story.
After visiting the churches of San Sebastiano and Sant'Andrea, we will conclude our intense itinerary in front of the cloister of the Town Hall, which once belonged to the Convent of Santa Maria di Gesù, one of the oldest churches in the village, where a well-deserved refreshment will await you.
Get ready for an adventure not to be missed, exploring one of the most beautiful and mysterious villages in the Madonie region.
For more details about the excursion and the itinerary map, please visit the following link: eventi.visitgratteri.com