The village of Godrano, in Sicily, has a very ancient history, made up of foreign dominations but also of culture and traditions.
Knowing its origins allows you to immerse yourself in a corner of Sicily that is very beautiful but still little known. For anyone who wants organize a vacation around here, here's everything you need to know about history and culture of the town of Godrano.
Godrano's story
La history of Godrano it begins at the time of the Arabs who gave the area the name of the lake, Al-Grudan, to identify the segment of water that was right in front of it. However, the period of greatest splendor of the village is between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries as the town was closely connected for commercial reasons with that of Parco Vecchio, very flourishing in the period.
In the fourteenth century, then, an ancient residence that was located on the territory became the residence of King Peter I of Aragon and this obviously brought great prosperity to the area.
The modern history of the village, however, can be traced back to the sixteenth century because in this period the noble Hannibal Valguarnera he decided to found a village in a position much further downstream than the original inhabited centre. It should be noted that this second nucleus never obtained the licentia populandi, so it is very probable that the inhabitants of the hill town had moved to the new location. Up until the 1812th century, the territory passed from hand to hand from one noble family to another, including the Castellos, the Favaras and the Colonna Cesaròs, until feudalism was abolished in XNUMX.
What to see in Godrano in Sicily
There are many i monuments and attractions that are present in the area of Godrano and which certainly constitute a reason for attraction to this village.
From a religious point of view, the only church in the town is the one dedicated to theImmaculate Conception which is a structure built in 1791 but on the remains of a previous structure. The Marquis of Roccaforte Giovanni Cottù strongly wanted this restructuring and financed the operation with his money. Inside the church there is a statue of the Madonna which was made in the eighteenth century and is completely in hand painted wood but also a painting with sacred images which is traced back to the school of Pietro Novelli.
Apart from this church, there are only two chapels in the whole territory: that of Sant'Antonino and that of Santa Barbara.
From the point of view of civil architecture, a monument of great interest is the Fishpond of the Bourbons, built in 1800 and connected to an underground source.
What to do in Godrano in Sicily
A very special attraction in the village is the Godranopolis museum which tells the origins of the country through the tools of the trade of shepherds and farmers, the two professions that have always characterized the territory.
The main party of the country is that patron dedicated to St. Joseph which is celebrated in the month of September, on the 2nd. During this event a solemn procession is organized in which the statue of the saint is carried in triumph.
A very greedy appointment, on the other hand, is certainly the one held in the month of July and which responds to the name of cheese festival: it is a typical product of the area, of great value, made since the fifteenth century, to be enjoyed alone or in many different preparations. During the festival it will be possible not only to have tastings but also to discover others local products.
What to eat in Godrano, Sicily
Obviously in the village where caciocavallo is one of the most appreciated and loved products, the specialties based on this cheese abound but they are certainly not the only delicacy that can be tasted in this corner of Sicily. For lovers of salty foods, beans with mint are also worth mentioning, another typical recipe, which can also be enjoyed in summer for the freshness that the plant manages to impart. Sweet and sour pumpkin and cold cheese sauce are other recipes that can only be tried in this corner of Sicily. From the point of view of desserts, on the other hand, the cannoli cannot be missed, as in the whole island, but the sweet couscous, the sfinci di San Giuseppe and the mustazzoli are also worth trying.
How to get to Godrano
To reach Godrano, in Sicily, from Palermo it is necessary to take the As121 while from Trapani the most suitable road is the E90. Those coming from Catania will be able to take the A19 and immediately after the SS121 while from Syracuse the best road is the one that provides first the A19 and then the E932. From Messina it is necessary to take the A20 first and then the E90, finally from Enna the road is the SS189.
