Camporeale among hills, wine and culture

Camporeale among hills and vineyards

Camporeale lies at an elevation of about 440 m at the foot of the Cozzo di Cipolla, Cresta di S. Cosimo and Spezzapignatte hills. Spezzapignatte lies at an elevation of about 610 m; the hills rise above the Mandrianova plain. Camporeale’s landscape combines the town, vineyards and distant views in a succession of hills, mountains and plains. The Camporeale wine-growing area is also located in hilly terrain at an elevation of 300 to 600 m, in the Monreale DOC, in the Province of Palermo and in the heart of Western Sicily.

From the landscape around Camporeale, views extend across hills, mountains and plains to Corleone, Campofiorito, Roccamena, Bisacquino, Contessa Entellina, Gibellina and Salemi.

Culture and sacred sites

The Chiesa Madre dates from 1779. It houses a crucifix attributed to Frà Umile di Petraia and a Madonna by Bagnasco. Camporeale’s cultural profile also includes the Museo del Palazzo del Principe, dedicated to art and the local area and part of the anthropological Itinerario of the Rete Museale e Naturale Belicina.

The two sacred sites also represent different historical reference points in the townscape: the Chiesa Madre dates from 1779, while the Santuario was built in 1920. The Santuario della Madonna dei Peccatori di Camporeale is located on a hill above the town centre and was built in 1920. The Madonna is venerated there under the title “Refuge of Sinners.”

Wine experiences and regional cuisine

Alessandro di Camporeale offers a guided wine tour of its winery. At Tenuta Rapitalà, the “Passeggiata in Tenuta” package includes a walk between the rows of vines, a guided tour of the cellar and a tasting of four wines.

The “Merenda Siciliana” package at Tenuta Rapitalà includes a guided tour of the cellar and surrounding vineyards, a tasting of four wines, typical antipasti and coffee. “Dejeuner nel Baglio” includes an introduction to the cellar, a tasting of five wines, including three from the Gioiello di eleganza range, and lunch in the Baglio with antipasto, a main course, fruit, dessert and coffee. Several wine formats are available for travel planning: a guided tour at Alessandro di Camporeale, a walk with a cellar tour and tasting at Rapitalà, and packages with antipasti or lunch. At Rapitalà, the tasting ranges from four to five wines depending on the package. In Camporeale, the choice can be guided by the balance between cellar, vineyard rows and food.

In its eleventh edition, Camporeale Days was held as a celebration of the area and its diversity of flavours; the wine tastings were accompanied by culinary specialities and typical products from the area.

More destinations for your travel planning

If you are continuing to plan your trip in Sicily, here are some more destinations: Contessa Entellina, Cerda, Monreale, Campofelice Di Roccella, Scillato, Prizzi, Castellana Sicula and Belmonte Mezzagno.

For the higher-level travel overview: Palermo.