Gangi is one of the best known and most visited villages in Sicily. Its rich and glorious past is marked by eighteen churches, noble palaces, and artistic treasures. Approaching the town is always a dazzling vision: with its golden houses stacked up on a hill and Mount Etna in the background, it recalls a fantastic nativity scene, or a flock of sheep grazing on a hill. The historical origins of Gangi are intertwined with myth. For a long time, the country was associated with a legendary Cretan settlement in Sicily, Engyon, repeatedly cited by classical authors but eventually vanished. What is clear, however, are the archaeological finds showing settlements in the area since prehistoric times. It’s important to note that over the centuries the town passed through numerous dominations, as did most of Sicily. Visiting the city you will be struck not only by the lavish churches, but also by the number of aristocratic palaces that hark back to a prosperous past. Most of the landmark buildings are in the part of the city that once was surrounded by fourteenth-century walls. The lower part extends upwards with steep and narrow streets which lead to the historic center.