Petralia Soprana is a medieval gem of the Madonie range, located at an altitude of 1147 metres, making it one of the highest villages in the region. It overlooks a beautiful part of Sicily, with panoramas stretching from Etna to the city of Enna, and as far as the Palermo mountains.
It was inscribed among the most beautiful villages in Italy (borghi più belli d’Italia) with the title of “Borgo dei Borghi” in 2018 in the competition organised by RAI.
Inhabited since Antiquity (probably by the Sicani and then by the Romans), the current appearance of the village dates back to the 11th century and the arrival of the Normans and Roger of Hauteville, from which period the castle and the defences with towers, ramparts and churches date.
Outside the urban fabric, remains of the medieval fortifications and of the castle survive.
Visiting Petralia
Petralia Soprana
Historic centre
The historic centre of Petralia is organised into four traditional quarters: Pusterna, Seralcadio, Casale and Carmine, which correspond to the medieval development of the village.
Its heritage is remarkable, starting with the superb Piazza del Duomo, where the Matrice church stands, dating back to the Middle Ages, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul (Chiesa Madre dei Santi Apostoli Pietro e Paolo), which is flanked by a portico and has a Norman bell tower and another from the 18th century. Documented since the 12th century, it underwent major alterations between the 15th and 18th centuries, featuring Gothic-Catalan and Baroque elements. Valuable works are kept inside, including an altarpiece attributed to the school of Giuseppe Salerno (known as lo Zoppo di Gangi) and sculptures of the Sicilian Renaissance.
Chiesa Madre of Petralia Soprana
The Church of the Holy Saviour (Santissimo Salvatore), of elliptical shape, is said to be an ancient mosque converted into a church by the Normans. Its current configuration results mainly from later Baroque transformations.
South of the village, at the end of the ridge, the church of Santa Maria di Loreto was probably linked to an ancient Arab fortress, converted into a church. Equipped with two pretty bell towers, it was remodelled in the 18th century with its Baroque facade.
North of the town, Santa Maria del Gesù is the church of the Franciscan convent, erected in the 17th century, with a facade adorned with pretty floral motifs. It was here that Brother Umile da Petralia (1580-1639) spent the first years of his novitiate. This Franciscan sculptor was renowned for his polychrome wooden crucifixes distributed in Sicily and Calabria.
Via Generale Medici
The historic centre also preserves aristocratic palaces of the 17th-18th centuries (Palazzo Pottino, Palazzo del Municipio) and several viewpoints offering beautiful views of the Madonie relief.
Rock salt mine and museum
At 4 km (via the paths, otherwise 10 km by road), the Raffo rock salt mine museum (Museo della Miniera di Salgemma de Raffo) is located on a site exploited by Italkali, which is one of the most important rock salt deposits in southern Europe. It includes an underground route at a depth of about 100 metres, consisting of a contemporary art museum displaying sculptures made from rock salt.
Folklore and traditions
The main festival of the village is dedicated to Saint Peter and Paul, during the five days preceding 29 June, with a procession on the eve to the sound of drums, and on the day itself about fifteen statues of saints carried in procession.
In mid-August a costumed festival organises the re-enactment of an 18th-century baronial wedding, the “Matrimonio Baronale”, involving the four historic quarters of the village, with costume parades, music and civic re-enactments.
Among the gastronomic traditions, Petralia Soprana is part of the Madonie territory renowned for the production of cheeses (notably caciocavallo and pecorino), artisanal charcuterie and pastries linked to religious festivals.
Chiesa Madre of Petralia Soprana 
Where Petralia Soprana is located: map
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Information
Sources and external sites
- Website of the municipality of Petralia Soprana: www.comune.petraliasoprana.pa.it
- Wikipedia page on Petralia Soprana (in Italian)
- Salt mine museum Museo sotto Sale: www.museosottosale.it
- Visit Sicily – Petralia Soprana – Regional tourist office
- I Borghi più Belli d’Italia – The most beautiful villages in Italy
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