Geraci Siculo, the county capital under Norman rule

Geraci Siculo, one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages, preserves a past rich in history and traditions. Its name derives from the Greek Jerax – “vulture” – evoking the image of an impervious rock watched over by birds of prey. Its origins intertwine with the Byzantine domination (6th–8th centuries), the subsequent Muslim conquest (840), and the persistence of the Greek-Byzantine rite until the 14th century. With the Normans (1072), Geraci became the capital of a county and, from 1252, was indissolubly linked to the Ventimiglia family, powerful lords who shaped Sicilian art and politics. After conflicts with the Chiaramonte, in 1419 the county was elevated to a marquisate and the capital was moved to Castelbuono. Geraci Siculo still preserves today the fascination of its millenary history.

What to see in the village

Nestled in the Madonie Park, Geraci Siculo welcomes visitors with its medieval alleys, courtyards, and cobbled streets leading to a rich artistic and monumental heritage. The itinerary may begin at the bevaio of the Santissima Trinità, then climb to the Byzantine-origin castle, flanked by the Church of Sant’Anna, the palatine chapel of the Ventimiglia. A little further down stands the Church of San Giacomo, guardian of Byzantine frescoes and wooden sculptures. Wandering through the alleys, one reaches Piazza del Popolo, the heart of the village, dominated by the Mother Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, a treasure chest of works by the Gagini workshop, Sicilian wooden statues, and precious liturgical furnishings preserved in the crypt.

Along Corso Vittorio Emanuele lies the Church of Santo Stefano, with its polychrome bell tower and 17th-century artworks, while an alternative route leads to the Churches of San Bartolomeo and Santa Maria La Porta, both enriched with splendid Gaginian marbles. Particularly striking is the Salto del Ventimiglia, a glass belvedere overlooking the ravine, next to the Church of San Giuliano. Other unmissable stops include the Church of San Francesco, Santa Maria della Catena, and, outside the village, Santa Maria della Cava and the Chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian, destinations of spirituality and nature.

Events in Geraci Siculo

In Geraci Siculo, religious and popular traditions mark the year. The most heartfelt is the Feast of the Holy Crucifix (May 3), with a slow procession of barefoot faithful offering candles in gratitude. Every seven years, the evocative Cavalcata dei Pastori takes place, a 17th-century parade of horsemen in traditional costumes with symbolic cheese offerings. In August, the Giostra dei Ventimiglia reenacts the Middle Ages with tournaments, falconry, and historical markets. This is followed by the patronal feast of Saint Bartholomew (August 24) and the Virgin Mary Child (September 8), with the ritual of roasted chickpeas against storms.

photo credits RudiErnst