8 thousand years of history, 18 churches, historic buildings and one of the most interesting museums in the area: you will find all this in Bisacquino, in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, where between ladyfingers and pignoccata, excursions in the countryside and parties in the heart of the village, history of Bisacquino comes forward right before your eyes!
La history of Bisacquino, so ancient and full of important events, makes the town one of the most interesting centers in the area: we do not know with certainty to which era the origin of the village dates back, but this is because here at the foot of the Mount Genuardo the territory had already been colonized by man 8000 years ago; Sicans and Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and Arabs certainly passed through the area.
The Arabs themselves seem to have left the most important imprint on the village, in fact the historic center is very similar to the Saracen settlements of the time of the invasions.
In the Middle Ages, the village became a possession administered by Monreale, remaining so until 1812, when Bisacquino became the property of the Bourbons. From the unification of Italy a certain dissatisfaction with the distribution of land was born here and given the failure of the protest movements of the peasants, a long phase of emigration to the Americas began, which lasted until the beginning of the XNUMXth century.
Among the prominent names linked to the village of Bisacquino, we remember the director Frank Capra and the Scibetta family, expert watchmakers for centuries.
Bisacquino in the greenery
In addition to the history of Bisacquino, it is also useful to know where the village is located and what it is possible to admire in the surroundings, especially when, as in the case of the Sicilian hinterland, nearby you can find beauties such as Monte Genuardo and the Oriented Nature Reserve of Monte Carcaci.
Monte Genuardo is part of Monti Sicani Park and is located approximately 28 km west of the village; here you can walk among maples and holm oaks, paying attention to the passage of the red fox and the wild cat. Equally fascinating is the journey intoArchaeological Area of Monte Adranone, which is located on the slopes of the mountain, in the territory of Sambuca di Sicilia.
Moving east, you will reach the Monte Carcaci Reserve in about an hour's journey: cyclamen, hawthorn and butcher's broom are some of the flowers to be admired in the Reserve, where kites, buzzards and peregrine falcons live.
Things to see in Bisacquino
Once you arrive in town, start yours immediately visit to Bisacquino starting from the historic center: la Mother Church dedicated to St. John Baptist it is located in Piazza Triona, right in the heart of the town. The ancient sixteenth-century Mother Church stood here, before the new Matrix was built in 1713; if the facade in full baroque style immediately conquers visitors, the interiors, even more beautiful, undoubtedly deserve your visit! Also there Church of San Francesco d'Assisi it is among the beauties of the town and stands out for its incredible bell tower, triangular in shape.
At the former Capuchin Convent, however, you will find the civic Museum, where you can discover everything about the history of the village, from ancient crafts to the artistic activities of the town. The great cultural attraction of Bisacquino, however, is the Clock Shop-Museum, a true temple of gears, where following the traces of Scibetta family, we discover everything, absolutely everything, about tower clocks and many other historical clocks.
On Monte Triona, at almost a thousand meters above sea level, you will finally find the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Balzo. Let the locals tell you the story of this building built in 1664 and you will discover the mysterious and miraculous events of the painting of the Virgin.
At the table in Bisacquino!
Between alleys in the village and climbs to the top of the mountains, a stay in Bisacquino will undoubtedly whet your appetite: take advantage of it to discover unique and surprising flavours, those of the typical Palermo cuisine!
I typical dishes in Bisacquino they include au gratin mussels and swordfish rolls, walled meat and vinegar cutlets, beccafico sardines or marinated mackerel. But it doesn't end here: in Bisacquino there are also many typical desserts, from cannoli to ladyfingers, up to almond pignoccata.
By looking for farmhouses in the area, however, you can directly purchase the most genuine products of the earth, to take back home; write on the shopping list "busacchinara onion"And extra virgin olive oil!
How to get to Bisacquino
If the history of Bisacquino has won you over and you are curious to discover the village, getting to the town is easy, both by car and by train.
By car:, take the SS 121, then the SS 118 and SS188 proceeding in the direction of Palazzo Adriano; on the train, from Castelvetrano station, you will arrive in the town with a journey of approximately 40 km by bus or shuttle.
