{"id":67611,"date":"2015-07-20T18:18:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-20T17:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/?p=67611"},"modified":"2026-10-12T10:02:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T09:02:37","slug":"sutera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/en\/sutera","title":{"rendered":"Sutera"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

12 kilometres south of Mussomeli and near the beautiful Platani valley, the medieval village of Sutera<\/strong> is listed among “the most beautiful villages in Italy”, benefiting in particular from one of the most beautiful landscapes in Sicily, on a hill, at the foot of an enormous limestone rock.<\/p>\n

A medieval village and one of the most beautiful landscapes in Sicily<\/h2>\n

The village is divided into three historic quarters, one of which was founded by the Saracens, a casbah that is brought to life each year by a living nativity scene. It has kept a typical medieval layout, with its old stone houses served by winding alleyways and stairways, its courtyards and its churches. The enormous limestone rock of Mount San Paolino<\/strong> dominates the village with its sanctuary from which one enjoys a superb view; from its summit, in good weather, one can make out up to 22 municipalities, the Madonie, Etna and the sea of Agrigento.<\/p>\n

\"Sutera<\/a>

Sutera<\/p><\/div>\n

The landscape is characterised by cavities and ravines formed by karst phenomena, where the Sican civilisation settled, with traces in some caves of occupation by Basilian monks. <\/p>\n

Historical elements<\/h2>\n

In the surrounding area there were necropolises and a Sican village. According to one hypothesis, around the 6th century BC, there would have been a Greek sanctuary on Mount San Marco to the south, dedicated to the cult of Artemis Soteira.
The name “Sutera” would be of Greek origin, from “Soter” (the Saviour), or from “Soteira” (linked to the divinity Artemis), evoking the protection of the summit or of an ancient pagan cult.
Traces of Byzantine frescoes dating from the 4th and 6th centuries AD have been found there. The Saracens founded the Rabato quarter in 860, which has kept its original urban appearance. The village then grew under the Normans and the Swabians, the latter founding the Giardinello quarter in the 13th century.
Under the Aragonese, the fief was a possession of Chiaramonte, then sold to the royal domain of the Crown of Sicily.<\/p>\n

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