Middle ages and crafts in Sicily
Excursion for cruise passengers from the port of Palermo
At 8.30 we transfer to the medieval village of Caccamo which is 521mt .above the sea level. A damsel dressed in period costume will welcome the group on the stairways to the biggest and most beautiful castle.The fortifications date back to the Carthaginian times (480BC) although the historical dates bring us back to the Normans.The castle reached its peak of importance during the fourteenth century, when the Chiaramonte family fortified it and made it unconquerable.During later centuries there were numerous Aragonese and Spanish families up to the last gentrified family De Spuches. In 1963 they gave the castle to the Regional Sicilian Government which is now the owner.
During the visit you will experience Medieval and Renaissance atmosphere. With the help of other guides, you will visit an ancient kitchen.at the lower level of the castle. It has a still working wood oven. You will see a photographic exhibition about the most beautiful castles in Sicily and then you can assist in many activities like the making of home made bread, the braiding of baskets by local farmers. You will also see young women making special Sicilian needlework passed throught the centuries such as embroidery, bobbin lace, filet, crochet work and lace rosette.There is also a blacksmith working iron. Most of these jobs will die out in the years to come.
There will be free time where you can buy souvenirs, take photos and taste some of the exquisite Sicilian foods like cream of pistachios or lemons, chocolate from Modica,honey made from citrus fruits and dessert wine (Marsala).
Another stop will be dedicated to the cultural aspect of this town of art which is also called "Cartagine of Sicily" and "urbs generosissima".First a visit to Piazza Duomo, which is a raised terrace overlooking the older part of the town, dating back to the thirteenth century called "Terravecchia".
Afterwords we will visit some works of arts by the Gagini and the Flemish school from the fifteenth to the twentieth century.Also frescoes, paintings and sculptures that are in the church of Saint George.
At the end publicity material and brochures of the town and the cultural park of the valley of Torto will be distributed. You can buy a series of local foods typical of the area .
You will then be taken to a restaurant where a buffet lunch will be served.This will consist of "panelle" made with chick-pea flour fried, sfincionello (Sicilian pizza), dried sausage (typical local salami), typical bread with fresh ricotta (made locally the same morning), omelette made with eggs, potatoes and onions, cheese (primo sale) made locally and slightly seasoned, oven baked pasta, pork sausage breaded and grilled (sausage is the pride of local butchers), mineral water, oven baked cassata with cream of ricotta and coffee.
Information and booking: phone and fax 091 8121312 - mobile phone 3393721811
