Discover Collesano: Churches, Ceramics and the Targa Florio

Historic Collesano and its racing history

Collesano reveals its character through narrow streets, alleys and stairways leading to Piazza Garibaldi. Around the remains of the Norman castle, the town preserves its historic appearance. At the same time, Collesano is the meeting point of the three Madonie racing circuits: Grande, Medio and Piccolo. This combination of an organically developed townscape and racing history gives you different starting points for an individual journey through Sicily.

Churches and art in the townscape

The Basilica di Santa Maria la Nuova contains works by Zoppo di Gangi and Pietro Novelli. Santa Maria la Vecchia is Collesano’s oldest church and houses a 16th-century Madonna by Gagini. The Chiesa Madre was also built towards the end of the 15th century; it contains statues from the circle of the sculptor Antonello Gagini. For those interested in culture, this creates a tour through different periods and artistic traditions, without the sacred buildings appearing separate from the rest of the townscape.

You will find further noteworthy interiors in the Chiesa di San Giacomo, built towards the end of the 15th century and housing a 16th-century wooden statue of the Apostle James. The Chiesa di Santa Maria di Gesù preserves a wooden crucifix from 1635, regarded as a documented work by Frate Umile di Petralia; a 17th-century cloister adjoins the church. The Chiesa del Collegio contains a representation of the dead Christ in an urn.

Targa Florio and local handicraft culture

The Museo Targa Florio is located in a municipal building on Corso Vittorio Emanuele and documents the history of the Targa Florio. It presents documents, memorabilia, photographs, helmets, racing suits and shoes. There is also an extensive photographic collection in an exhibition area of 200 square metres. The old Fornaci near the Bagherino district, locally known as “stazzuna”, reveal another aspect of the town’s history. The pottery kilns associated with the “stazzuna”, as well as the processing, firing and glazing of clay, date back to a 17th-century tradition.

Forest trail, ceramic staircase and orientation

The SENTIERO CASE RASCATE – LA VIA DEI CASTAGNETI leads through the Madonie Regional Park from Collesano through a cork oak and oak forest to Case Rascata. The trail is classified as easy and is accessible to everyone, including people without trekking experience. From the town centre, access is via Via Isnello, the SP 109 towards Isnello and then Provincial Road 128. There is also a panoramic staircase on Via Polizzi, completely covered in ceramics. Its design incorporates the colours and motifs typical of Collesano’s tradition. For orientation in the area, there is an information point of the Madonie Regional Park on Viale Vincenzo Florio.

Flavours and local festivals

The Collesano Cheese Festival is known as the 17th Sagra del Formaggio. During the festival, the historic centre becomes a village of culinary delights for two consecutive days. The local cheese-making tradition thus complements the churches, museums, ceramics and forest trails with a culinary way to experience Collesano.

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To the overview of higher-level travel destinations: Palermo.