San Giorgio a Gratteri Abbey

A few kilometers South of village of Gratteri, in the XII century theSt George's Abbey, a religious monument from the Norman era, commissioned by Duke Ruggero and built between 1140 and 1142.

Today the Abbey is part of the territory of Gratteri, Sicilian municipality in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, a center populated by less than a thousand inhabitants: the site of the Abbey of San Giorgio a Gratteri, despite the small size of the town, is sufficient to attract, with its beauty and its history, a large number of visitors every year.

Kings, Popes, monks and conquerors, all those who passed through here, had dealings in the Middle Ages with the Abbey of San Giorgio a Gratteri, while together with the prestige of the rectory, the possessions of the Abbey grew. About a century later, however, the rectory was eliminated and the Abbey underwent a considerable downsizing, which over the centuries led it to become ever smaller and less important, until it became a site on which today only some ruins of the ancient glories; and yet, even today, there are many scholars who come here to broaden their knowledge of the history of the place, where archaeological excavations are carried out and the Gratteri story.

The architecture of the Abbey of San Giorgio a Gratteri

Today only the ruins remain of the Abbey of San Giorgio a Gratteri, but it is still possible to reconstruct the original architecture, especially thanks to the remains of the ancient structure: of Norman style, the building must have had a basilica plan, with three naves leading into three apses (as demonstrated by the perimeter walls which have been preserved until today).

It is possible that the decorations of the Abbey appeared similar to those of the Cathedral of Cefalù, while the main portal appears decorated with geometric motifs.

A little further north of the site, traces of the monks' houses are evident, even if the actual buildings no longer exist.

What to do at the Abbey of San Giorgio a Gratteri

The Abbey of San Giorgio in Gratteri is a stop that we recommend visiting not only for those staying in Gratteri, but also for those who are in the nearby villages: such an ancient and interesting testimony of the past is the perfect opportunity for all enthusiasts of history, but also of art and architecture, an event not to be missed.

Furthermore, those staying in Gratteri will have the opportunity to discover the town, which is located about 4 km from the site of the Abbey. The Municipality, immersed in the wonderful greenery of the Madonie Park, is rich in monuments, such as the Old matrix dedicated to San Michele Arcangelo and castle ruins in the peripheral area of ​​the village, but there are also many other sacred buildings that can be visited in the area, fromAbbey of Sant'Anastasia to the Church of Santa Maria di Gesù, From Church of Sant'Andrea to that of St. James, dedicated to Patron Saint of the country. At Mother Church of Gratteri is guarded Treasury of Jerusalem and according to tradition, it contains ben four thorns from the crown of Christ, preserved in a precious reliquary. Linked to this tradition is the Feast of the Holy Thorns, which is celebrated on the first Sunday of May, while the other great party in the village is the one for the Patron Saint, St James, in the month of September.

Between faith and tradition, Gratteri is a town full of events, for those who want to visit the village on the occasion of a popular and religious festival, which offers a lot at any time of the year.

From the village it is possible to reach easily Grattara cave, crossing the pine forest just 2 km away, but also Isnello and Madonie Park, while Cefalù, at 19 km, is located on the northern coast of the island.

How to get to the Abbey of San Giorgio a Gratteri

The Abbey of San Giorgio is located just 4 km from Gratteri: to get to the town, you can choose to travel by car or by train.

Who prefers theauto, will be in the center after just 6 km from the exit for Cefalù, on the A20 Messina-Buonfornello, while those who prefer the train, you can take the bus or the shuttle at the Cefalù station, still covering a short 8 km journey before arriving in the village.