Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore in Geraci Siculo

Perched on a rock spur and framed by the Mediterranean scrub, Geraci Siculo it is a village full of charm where everything tells of a thousand-year history. It was the Greek colonists who gave the settlement the name that still distinguishes it today: sightings of vultures, "jerax" in Greek, were frequent and hence the toponym "Geraci".
Saracens, Muslims, Normans, Swabians and Angevins dominated here as in all of Sicily, leaving traces of their passage in the civil and religious architectures that embellish Geraci Siculo, one of the Most beautiful villages in Italy. The narrow streets that crossing and dividing lead up to Piazza del Popolo, the heart of the historic centre, reveal the medieval layout of the town.

History of the Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore of Geraci Siculo

Nestled among other buildings, the Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore of Geraci Siculo reveals its nature as a religious building almost discreetly, through the rose window, the mullioned window and the pointed arch of the facade: neo-gothic elements resulting from the remodeling carried out in the mid-900s. The bell tower decorated with colored majolica shows the appearance it assumed after the interventions dating back to the 800s, made necessary by the earthquakes of 1818 and 1819. The origins of this church, however, are much older.
It was Francesco I Ventimiglia, lord of Geraci, who began the construction works in the 300th century which were completed after more than a century: the church was in fact consecrated on 16 August 1495. Crossing its threshold one is struck by the impression of solidity given by the arches pointed arches which, resting on solid walls, separate the three naves. The side chapels were then added in the 600s where the Baroque and late Baroque stuccos are still clearly visible, some of which were made in the 700th century by Francesco Lo Cascio, an artist from Motta d'Affermo.

The innumerable works of art of the Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore in Geraci Siculo

Admiring the numerous works of art kept here, one takes a real journey through the centuries. The elegance of the sculptures depicting the Madonna della Mercede and the Madonna della Neve, both attributed to the Renaissance sculptor Domenico Gaggini or to his school, immediately strikes the tourist who visits the Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore in Geraci Siculo. A triumph of stucco with floral motifs, festoons, coats of arms and elaborate frames, all in Baroque style, decorate the Chapel of the Holy Trinity and the painting of the same name placed there. The baptismal font and the splendid Venetian organ, enlarged in the 500s with over 600 pipes, date back respectively to the 900s and 1000s. The story of the Annunciation painting then links Sicily to Tuscany. Due to the resemblance to the canvas that Vasari created for the Church of Santa Maria Novella in Arezzo in fact, it is plausible to attribute its paternity to Jacopo Chimenti, known between the 500th and 600th centuries also as the author of copies of Vasari's works. Finally, the treasure of the crypt is not to be missed, a valuable collection of sacred objects, vestments and furnishings in gold or silver from different periods, including the fourteenth-century reliquary of Piero di Martino da Pisa and numerous "ex voto".

What to see around Geraci Siculo

La Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore of Geraci Siculo it is not the only jewel of which this town located in the heart of the Madonie can be proud. 3 minutes by car from Piazza del Popolo, within the former Convent of the Capuchin Fathers, in fact arise the interesting Ethnoanthropological Museum of the Madonie and an important library with texts dating back to the 500th century. A visit certainly deserve the refined "Drinker of the Holy Trinity", the ruins of the Castle of Ventimiglia and the suggestive Leap of Ventimiglia: jutting out over an overhang, the steel and glass structure offers a spectacular view of the Nebrodi and, on clear days, on Etna. Geraci is also an excellent starting point to get to know the Madonie Park: Castle of Castelbuono, the salt mines of Petralia Soprana, the Madonie Adventure Park as well as bridleways, trekking, MB and free climbing routes, caves and caverns represent unique opportunities for recreation, fun and discovery of the beauties of nature.

How to reach Geraci Siculo

To reach by car Geraci Siculo from Palermo it is necessary a journey of about 1h30 through the E90 and A19 motorways, the provincial SP138 and the state roads SS290, SS120 and SS286.
It is also possible to take from Palermo the train up to Cefalù station from where taxis and buses leave for Geraci Siculo.
The bus itinerary, which lasts about 2 hours and 30 minutes, also represents a pleasant opportunity to cross the numerous and suggestive villages that dot the Madonie area.

© Image by Ephems, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons