Sanctuary of Gibilmanna of Cefalù

In the territory of the town of Cefalù, in the province of Palermo, there are numerous beauties that are worth visiting such as the splendid Sanctuary of Gibilmanna.

The Sanctuary of Gibilmanna

The wonderful Sanctuary of Gibilmanna is located in the homonymous hamlet of the town of Cefalù, in the province of Palermo, and is a place of worship loved and appreciated by many faithful who flock every year from all over to visit it and pray Holy Virgin. It is a dedicated facility catholic cult of the Roman rite, the Feast of Our Lady of Gibilmanna, and is built in a particularly panoramic area as it is located about 800 meters above sea level on the slopes of Pizzo Sant'Angelo.
The origins of the sanctuary are very ancient as, according to tradition, it was one of the six Benedictine monasteries is San Gregorio Magno, pontiff from the year 590 until 604, he had it erected by investing his own resources. The present sanctuary, therefore, was built on the ruins of the old church. In fact, the convent went into disuse when in Sicilia, towards the mid XNUMXth century, the Arabs arrived. Subsequently the various religious structures present on the island were rebuilt and in some cases restructured with the return of the Christians and in particular with the conquest of the Normans. There are historical documents that recall the events of the church which in 1228 had become a priory and therefore no longer belonged to the Benedictine monks. Around 1530, as happened for many other religious structures, this church became a new convent Capuchin order.

The new convent

The reconstruction and expansion of the new convent took place between 1619 and 1624 with the annexation of a church to accommodate more and more faithful. The chapel was dedicated to Holy Virgin and presents several elements of decoration in the Baroque style made by the master from Palermo Baldassarre Pampillonia with project developed by the architect Paul Amato.
On the altar there is a magnificent statue of Madonna with child which had previously been made in 1534 by Antonello Cangini while on the sides there are two further marble statues depicting Saint Helena e St. John Baptist. Remaining on the main altar, there is a painting of theAssumption probably made in 1710.
It should be emphasized that in the sanctuary it is also possible to admire a rich museum e a library, as well as enjoy the opportunity to view the eighteenth-century catacombs.
They are in the museum works of art built in the Franciscan style while the library allows the visitor to appreciate a large number of historical documents and writings dating back to the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

What to see in Cefalù

Cefalù is a town of almost 14 inhabitants which is part of the Madonie Park and is among the most beautiful and characteristic villages of the whole national territory. On its territory there are many beauties to appreciate as well as beautiful beaches bathed by a crystalline sea. First of all, a visit to the Cathedral of Cefalù recognized as a World Heritage Site byUnesco in 2015. Il Duomo it was built in 1131 and has many styles inside, starting from the beautiful mosaics in the apse of Byzantine conception. However Cefalù has many other religious structures not to be missed such as the Church of San Leonardo made in medieval era and restored during the XNUMXth century, the Church of the Holy Trinity or that of San Sebastiano. In addition, there are also must-see facilities including the Episcopal palace extremely rich in ornaments and the related workshop. As far as civil architecture is concerned, it is advisable to take a look at theTavern the Great which is an ancient fortified palace, Legambi Palace, the medieval washhouse, the Municipal Theatre and pawnshop.
Do not miss the Bastion of Capo Marchiafavain Francis Crispi Square, monumental remnant of the ancient city defenses in polygonal blocks, a panoramic and romantic corner, suspended between sky and sea.

How to get to Cefalù

To reach Cefalù starting from Catania it is necessary to cover a route by car of 178 km which takes about 2 hours 10 minutes crossing the A19 motorway.
Alternatively, you can take the RV train of the FS in Catania Centrale to get to Palermo station in 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Instead from Palermo it is necessary 69 km by car via the E90, passable in 65 minutes.
From the central station you can reach Cefalù with theintercity of the FS in 45 minutes.
For those proceeding from the city of Messina, a part of the journey must first be covered by car on the A20 motorway and then continue on the E90 for a total of 170 kilometers is a journey of two hours and 20 minutes. To take the train it is necessary to reach the central station and get on the regional train of the FS which arrives in Palermo in 2 hours and 20 minutes.