Petralia Sottana, Italian comune
Petralia Sottana is a village built on a hillside in the Madonie mountain range, stretching between 900 and 1100 meters in elevation. The streets are paved with stone, buildings feature thick walls in medieval style, and narrow alleys and steep staircases connect different sections of the town.
The settlement was originally founded by the ancient Sicani people, later named Batarliah by Arabs, and received a Norman castle around 1000. Over time, the original Petra divided into two separate communities, Petralia Sottana and Petralia Soprana, and the town grew wealthy during the 1600s and 1700s under noble families like the Ventimiglia and Moncada.
The town comes alive during religious festivals, particularly the celebration of San Calogero in June with processions and local foods that gather the community together. The churches and old squares reveal how residents keep their customs and traditions alive throughout the year.
The village is best reached by car and sits at about 1040 meters in elevation, making it cooler than surrounding lowlands. Visitors can explore churches, walk through old streets, and sample local products including cheeses, cured meats, and traditional sweets.
The village holds fascinating archaeological remains from the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods discovered in caves like the Grotta del Vecchiuzzo, revealing that humans lived here over 5000 years ago. These early settlements show the long and continuous human presence in this mountain location.
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