Alia
730 mt. asl

DISCOVER THE MADONIE

Towards Alia, as the ancient populations did
Alia is a town located on the southwestern slopes of the lower Madonie. It’s located about 70 km from Palermo, 25 km from the coast, and 70 km from Agrigento. This area, a nerve center of ancient Sicily, attracted historic populations such as Sicans, Greeks, Phoenicians, and then Berbers. The village where the historic center stands today was built by the Marquis of Santa Croce Pietro Calestri in 1615. The name, originally “Lalia,” is believed to be of Arab origin. There are numerous places of archaeological and artistic interest in the area. The most well-known is the prehistoric site of the “Grotte della Gurfa”, a rock construction with unclear origins which houses the largest tholos (a dome-shaped tomb) in the Mediterranean. The mysterious charm of the “Grotte della Gurfa” is combined with enchanting panoramas expanding from the Aeolian Islands to Etna and the surrounding nature. An area constructed by ancient feudal Sicily, one of the most suggestive parts of the island, where the splendid nature, pure air, and country roads make ideal conditions for walking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
The origin of the Gurfa Caves is still shrouded in mystery today. The majestic domed tombs (tholoi) show similarities with other prehistoric sites in the Mediterranean, such as the Treasury of Atreus from ancient Mycenae, Greece and the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta.

ARTISTIC-MONUMENTAL ATTRACTIONS

— Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie, o Chiesa Madre (17th century)
— Churches of San Giuseppe and of Sant’Anna(18th century)
— Palazzo Guccione
— Anthropological and Ethnographic Museum
— Grotte della Gurfa, burial necropolis

In these itineraries

THOS_ITINERARI-02
4

NOTTI

Archeotrekking in the footsteps of the giants
THOS_ITINERARI-04
6

NOTTI

The week of olives, among the magnificent villages of the Madonie
THOS_ITINERARI-03
6

NOTTI

Aliavventura Summer Camp
THOS_ITINERARI-04
2

NOTTI

Sicilian gastronomy, cheese-making, and olive oil