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DISCOVER THE MADONIE
A privileged gateway to the paths in the Madonie Park
Polizzi Generosa is a village rich in history and art. It is one of the most well-known towns in the Madonie and is the birthplace of internationally renowned artists. Some findings date its origin to the Hellenistic era, in the fourth century BC, when the village was a fortress on the border between the Punic and Syracuse sides of the island. The name Polizzi probably derives from the Greek “Polis” while the name “Generosa” is more recent and was granted by Frederick II of Swabia in recognition of his wealth. The king himself granted Polizzi the title of state-owned city, that is, free from any fiefdom and governed by the city aristocracy. All this also contributed to nourishing a rich and flourishing economic, cultural, and social life. The tradition lives on through the more than twenty churches present, the remains of the castle, and a quaint historic center. Polizzi is a unique gateway to the paths in the Madonie Park where rich woods and hazelnut groves offer ideal landscapes for hiking and trekking.
When the clouds come from the coast and collide with the mountains, Polizzi appears to hang suspended in a floating sea. The Polizzani call this suggestive view “maretta” one of the most evocative panoramas that can be admired in Sicily.
ARTISTIC-MONUMENTAL ATTRACTIONS
— Church of Santa Maria Assunta, or Santa Maria Maggiore (11th century)
— Ruins of the Church of the Commenda (XII century)
— Church of San Francesco d’Assisi, today the San Francesco auditorium (13th century)
— Church of Santa Margherita, or Badia Vecchia, or of San Giovanni di Dio (15th century)
— Church of Santa Maria della Porta, or degli Schiavi (16th century)
— Church of the Carmine (15th century)
— Church of San Gandolfo La Povera, or Church of the Collegio (16th century)
— Church of Sant’Antonio Abate, former Arab mosque (10th century)
— Church of San Nicolò de ‘Franchis (12th century)
— Church of San Pancrazio (12th century)
— Church of the Udienza (12th century)
— Church of Santissima Trinità dei Cavalieri Teutonici (12th century)
— Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (15th century)
— Church of San Girolamo, or the Collegio dei Gesuiti (17th century)
— Church of Santa Maria Gesù lo Piano (13th century)
— Church of Sant’Orsola (14th century)
— Civic Archaeological Museum
— Hermitage of San Gandolfo (13th century)
— Ruins of the Church of the Commenda (XII century)
— Church of San Francesco d’Assisi, today the San Francesco auditorium (13th century)
— Church of Santa Margherita, or Badia Vecchia, or of San Giovanni di Dio (15th century)
— Church of Santa Maria della Porta, or degli Schiavi (16th century)
— Church of the Carmine (15th century)
— Church of San Gandolfo La Povera, or Church of the Collegio (16th century)
— Church of Sant’Antonio Abate, former Arab mosque (10th century)
— Church of San Nicolò de ‘Franchis (12th century)
— Church of San Pancrazio (12th century)
— Church of the Udienza (12th century)
— Church of Santissima Trinità dei Cavalieri Teutonici (12th century)
— Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (15th century)
— Church of San Girolamo, or the Collegio dei Gesuiti (17th century)
— Church of Santa Maria Gesù lo Piano (13th century)
— Church of Sant’Orsola (14th century)
— Civic Archaeological Museum
— Hermitage of San Gandolfo (13th century)
