Arte e Cultura
A historical and cultural journey through Terre Sicane reveals the innermost nature of the territory. A three thousand years old artistic heritage materializes in the site of Mount Adranone, dating back to the Iron Age, giving proof of the presence of very ancient civilizations.
You can still see the defensive walls of the fortified city, the craftsmen area, and the Sanctuary surrounded by a tenemos, or sacred fence, preceded by a sacellum where they gathered the faithful votive offerings.
You cannot miss a visit to the Archaeological Park of Selinunte, the largest in Europe with its 18 hectares to visit. It still preserves the ruins of eight Doric temples, some in perfect conditions. Among them, the temple of Demeter Malophoros and its antiquarium, which houses many relics. The Municipal Museum exhibits the wonderful Ephebos of Selinunte.
The extraordinary artistic richness of the Terre Sicane seriously suffered the terrible earthquake in 1968, which destroyed many municipalities in the Belìce Valley.
The Swabian Fortress in Menfi, the only thirteen-century castle in the area, was rebuilt on its own ruins, in respect of the original plan and volumes.
The historic centres of Sciacca and Sambuca are very well-preserved whereas. Their churches and noble buildings tell of the several dominations that have left their marks here.
In Santa Margherita di Belìce, the imposing Palazzo Filangeri Cutò is the seat of the Literary Park Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and some of the works, letters, notes, and pictures of the writer, that here lived his childhood. Its International Literary Prize has been awarded to authors like Yehoshua, Tahar Ben Jalloun, Claudio Magris and Anita Desai. The beautiful garden around the building, described in The Leopard, contains yuccas and other old-age trees.
In Sambuca di Sicilia, the Giambecchina Institution witnesses the high value of the Master’s paintings, where he told the purest Mediterranean brilliance, by catching the authentic Sicilian soul in its often conflicting complexity. Still in Sambuca, the Municipal Theatre L’Idea is a 19th century gem.
In Menfi, worth visiting is the Malacology Permanent Exhibition, which displays wonderful and rare specimens of seashells.
In the Terre Sicane the artistic handicrafts are of excellent quality. There is the extremely famous Sciacca ceramics dating back to the XII century. Today craftsmen still create their works through with traditional techniques: vases, plates, and other common objects are created along with pure art works. Moreover, the coral manufacturing has been very remarkable since the discovery of three fossil deposits in the late 19th century. Local craftsmen still produce fine handicrafts and jewels today.