The Hermitage of San Pellegrino in Caltabellotta
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Lovers of stories and legends will find inhermitage of San Pellegrino in Caltabellotta a perfect union between the sacred and the profane: a visit to the village, therefore, cannot do without a tour to admire this complex which, among other things, is on the highest part of Caltabellotta and therefore offers a unique view over the entire valley. For those wishing to set out to discover these places, here is everything you need to know about the hermitage of San Pellegrino in Caltabellotta.
History of the Hermitage of San Pellegrino in Caltabellotta
The history of the hermitage is very particular because it is linked to the legend of San Pellegrino. According to the stories handed down from father to son, in fact, Pellegrino had been sent to Sicily by Peter in order to convert the pagan populations.
Here he had landed at Triocala, the original nucleus of today's Caltabellotta, where the population was terrorized by a dragon that lived in the surrounding caves and which demanded a child as a sacrifice every day.
Pellegrino not only managed to save a child from the dragon's jaws but chased him away with his stick, pushing him into the meanders of the mountain and preventing him from returning to the sunlight. Then, a cave was built around those caves first monastery which over the centuries became the complex of the hermitage of San Pellegrino in Caltabellotta. In reality the complex was built on the remains of one Norman construction which in turn was built starting from the ruins of an Arab-era fortification.
The architecture and any works of art present in the Hermitage of San Pellegrino in Caltabellotta
The complex known as the hermitage of San Pellegrino in Caltabellotta covers a very large surface area and contains several buildings. Everything develops around two caves which house an altar dedicated to the saint and which were probably actually Pellegrino's home.
Next to them there is the convent that housed the monks who were dedicated to the cult of the Saint. In the highest part of the complex a small church has been positioned, also dedicated to Pellegrino, to reach which it is necessary to travel a very steep staircase and cross a portal with an arch on which there is the coat of arms of the Saint.
The church was built in the seventeenth century and has a single nave, although this should not be misleading given that its interior is particularly rich in decorations, in particular a stone floor majolica and several frescoes on the walls. The entire hermitage, which underwent an expansion and renovation in the XNUMXth century, also houses the wooden simulacrum representing Pellegrino.
What is possible to do in the surroundings or inside the Hermitage of San Pellegrino in Caltabellotta
A visit to Caltabellotta to admire the hermitage of San Pellegrino can be organized in order to carve out some time to discover other beauties found in the village and in its immediate vicinity.
For example the Mother Church, strongly desired by Count Ruggero D'Altavilla, is the testimony of another historical event, namely the victory of the count in a bitter battle against the Saracens, and also has a very singular structure at its side, known as the tower of the Mortorio.
It also tells a piece of the history of the place Norman castle of Sibilla which is located on Mount Kratas and which was even celebrated by Boccaccio in his Decameron. The mountain itself is one of the places of greatest natural interest in the entire area, as it is characterized by thick and wild vegetation and allows trekking enthusiasts to take truly unique trips.
How is it possible to get to Caltabellotta
To get to Caltabellotta and visit the Hermitage of San Pellegrino, you need to Palermo and from Trapani take the A29 and then continue on SS386 or on SS115.
Those coming from Catania, on the other hand, will use theA19 to then continue with the previous state roads.
Caltabellotta is also affected by a local bus service, provided by the company ATS while as regards trains, it does not have its own station but you can reach the nearest one in Castelvetrano and then from there continue with the train service bus.
