Ferla, the UNESCO heritage village

Nestled in the Monti Iblei, Ferla is one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, rich in history and charm. Its name derives either from the Latin Ferula, a shrub common in the area, or from the Lombard fara, meaning “lineage” or “village.” The origins of the territory date back to the 8th century BC with Greek colonization, followed by a Hellenistic settlement. In the Norman era (11th–12th centuries), the village was founded by settlers from Piazza Armerina, developing around a small fortress. Its growth continued through the Middle Ages and Renaissance under powerful families such as the Moncada. Elevated to a marquisate in 1625, Ferla suffered devastation in the 1693 earthquake but was reborn with a new Baroque reconstruction, becoming the architectural jewel we admire today.

The treasures of the village

Those who visit the Val di Noto discover in Ferla a charming village immersed in the Monti Iblei, surrounded by wheat fields, olive groves, almond trees, and centuries-old carob trees. Entry into the town passes through the medieval ruins and ancient alleys of the Carceri Vecchie quarter, where the authentic atmosphere of old Sicily still lingers, with stone houses, cat holes in doors, and small lookout windows.

After the 1693 earthquake, the center was rebuilt with a cross-shaped street plan, dominated by Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Umberto I. The first, known as the “Sacred Street,” is home to five splendid Baroque churches: the Carmine, sober and linear; San Sebastiano, the largest, with a monumental sculptural group and a painting by Crestadoro; the Mother Church, with precious stuccoes and sculptures; Sant’Antonio, the most scenographic, with a concave façade, octagonal dome, and frescoes; and finally Santa Maria, with a wooden crucifix from 1633 by Frate Umile da Petralia.

Alongside the religious buildings, Ferla preserves examples of Baroque and Liberty-style civil architecture, such as Palazzo Mirabella with its ornate balcony. Today, the village blends history and innovation, with modern sustainable structures like the Ecostazione and the Casa dell’Acqua, symbols of an environmentally conscious present.

Events in the village

In Ferla, religious and popular traditions mark the rhythm of the year. During Holy Week, intense rites take place: on Holy Thursday, the visit to the sepulchers and the procession of the “Christ at the Column”; on Friday, the procession of the Crucifix and the Virgin of Sorrows, followed by the evocative sciaccariata; on Easter Sunday, the awaited Scontru, the meeting between the Risen Christ and the Virgin. In summer, the village celebrates the Black Truffle Festival (July 18–19) and the feast of Saint Sebastian (July 20), the patron saint carried in procession by the “Nudi.” This is followed by the Cardacia, a summer carnival, and Lithos, a music festival. At Christmas, FerlaCometa lights up the town with nativity scenes and a great star.

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photo credits: Davide Mauro – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0