COLLESANO
Collesano
is a town in the Palermo province, standing on the slopes of Mount
Grotta del Signore. It is surrounded by a fine mountainous landscape
with plenty of naturalistic riches.
The
town offers several cultural and historical sites as well. The castle,
sitting atop a rocky spur, is a symbol of political and secular
power, it having long been the residence of Lords Ventimiglias.
The
Chiesa Madre dedicated to Santa Maria la Nova and San Pietro Apostolo
is from 1400s. It is divided into three naves containing many works
of art with paintings depicting the Conversion and Beheading of
St. Paul, the Vocation and the Crucifixion of St. Peter; a 1400’s
panel dedicated to the Adoration of the Magi, and a Madonna dei
Miracoli, being the city patron saint, celebrated on 26 May, the
canvas is carried in procession to remember the miraculous intervention
of the Virgin that eradicated a terrible plague in 1643.
Other
churches deserve a mention: the Chiesa di Santa Maria di Gesù,
with an adjacent convent, both dating from the 17th century, with
a bare architecture and a single nave housing a fine marble statue
representing the Madonna and Child; the 1300’s Chiesa di San
Sebastiano standing next to the 1700’s Collegio di Maria,
at the very heart of town, Piazza R. Gallo; the single-nave’s
Chiesa di Santa Maria la Vecchia dating back to the 12th century
renowned for being the most ancient church in town and for preserving
an Antonello Gagini’s statue of the Virgin. A final mention
goes to the Chiesa di San Domenico and to Palazzo dei Baroni Fatta
del Bosco.
Several
naturalistic sites in the city surroundings are worth-seeing, the
town lying at a close distance from the central section of the Madonie
chain and from their Park. The road leading through the mountains
is highly panoramic and runs past several naturalistic riches such
as Piano Zucchi, an impressive park home to a rich wildlife notably
composed of fallow-deer and wild-boar.
The
road also leads to Piano Battaglia, a well-known area that derives
its name from a battle between Arabs and Normans in 1069 and richest
in naturalistic spots. These two sites are also major winter attractions
most for sky and snow lovers. Monte d’Oro, the Abbazia di
San Giorgio and the Casale Volpignano are just some of the many
other sites that are worth an excursion.
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