Mistretta to discover

Mistretta - Silent alleys, ancient churches, splendid palaces; this is Mistretta, also called the saddle of the Nebrodi for its particular conformation. It stands on a hill at about 1000 meters above sea level in the wooded Nebrodi Mountains, famous since ancient times for their splendor. Mistretta is a city steeped in culture, traditions, values and glorious history, so much so that it boasts the title of imperial city.

Its peculiarity consists in the fact that despite the altitude it is only a few minutes away from the sea. Mistretta is one of the most ancient Sicilian cities, perhaps of Phoenician origin as the name would betray, Astarte, a Phoenician divinity. Various civilizations followed one another, each of which has left evidence of its passage. The highest point of the city is the fortress which houses the ruins of an Arab-Norman castle, the fulcrum around which the first urban nucleus was built. The flagship is the historic center, rich in monuments, religious buildings, noble palaces and museums. Palazzo Russo is an example of 1700 architecture with a beautiful portal and interesting interiors. Palazzo Salamone was built in the late 1800s and was the home of one of the most important families of Mistretta. Other notable buildings are now home to museums: Palazzo Portera is home to the museum of fauna; Palazzo Mastrogiovanni Tasca from 1727 houses the civic museum and the municipal library. Another interesting museum is the regional demo-ethno-anthropological museum of pastoral forest traditions. Do not miss the feast of the Madonna of the light on 7-8 September, when a pair of giant warriors escort the statue of the Madonna. Mistretta boasts 30 churches. We remember: the church of the Santissimo Salvatore, very small, between the alleys of the historical center, of Byzantine style; The church of San Giovanni Battista, from 1534, with a Romanesque façade; the mother church dedicated to Santa Lucia, from the 12th century; the church of San Sebastiano, XVI century, which houses the statue, the fercolo and the simulacrum of the saint.