Valledolmo: Churches, Festivals and Sicilian Landscapes

Valledolmo lies in a valley stretching from Pizzo Sampieri and Monte Campanaro to the mountain of Cammarata. This landscape is combined with a distinctive historical and cultural character: the town is home to several churches, a historic aristocratic residence and a bevaio, while festivals celebrating tomatoes and wine offer insights into local tradition.

Historic Buildings and Churches

Among the buildings is Baglio Castellana, also known as Palazzo Cutelli. The historic aristocratic residence dates from 1600 and is arranged around a square floor plan enclosing a large courtyard. In the Chiesa Madre di Valledolmo, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, religious history and art come together. The church was built in the 17th century on the initiative of Countess Cristina Cutelli Joppolo and preserves a gilded wooden statue of the Immaculate Conception.

The Chiesa delle Anime Sante was completed in 1654, blessed and inaugurated by the Bishop of Cefalù. Inside are mausoleums for Anna Summaniata and Antonio Cutelli. The Chiesa di Maria SS. Della Purità is also known as Chiesa Nuova. It was built from 1845 onward, has three naves and was designed in a Romanesque-Baroque style. It also houses a large crucifix from the school of Civiletti.

The “Acqua della Signora Cristina” bevaio is a historic and cultural landmark of Valledolmo. At the same time, it is considered an example of Sicilian rural architecture. Together with Baglio Castellana and the churches, it illustrates how closely religious buildings, aristocratic residences and rural design elements are interconnected in Valledolmo.

Tomatoes, Wine and Local Festivals

The Sagra del Pomodoro takes place from Friday to Sunday in the third week of September. Held in Piazza Purità, it includes an exhibition of various tomato varieties, tastings of different dishes made with tomatoes, tomato sauce and the concentrate known as “astrattu”, as well as a traditional spaghettata to conclude the event. Anyone wishing to learn more about the importance of tomatoes to local production can visit the Cooperativa Rinascita and follow the entire production chain, from cultivation to the production of preserves. The visit also includes a tasting of the cooperative’s products.

The local calendar places another focus on wine in autumn. The Sagra dell’uva and the festival of the DOC wines of the Contea di Sclafani take place on the first Sunday in October. The Valledolmo area belongs to this wine region. Thus, two different culinary themes stand side by side throughout the year: tomatoes, with their varieties and forms of processing, and grapes and DOC wines from the Contea di Sclafani.

Putting Valledolmo on Foot into Context

The Magna Via Francigena reaches Valledolmo railway station and then continues along the SP 8 towards Magazzinazzo and Valledolmo.

Discover More Destinations

More places for your trip to Italy: Ginestra, Trappeto, Geraci Siculo, Montelepre, Cinisi, Corleone, Pioppo and Mondello.

To the higher-level travel overview: Palermo.