Cammarata, Italy: travel guide to the Sicani Mountains village in the heart of Sicily

Cammarata is a hill town in the province of Agrigento, in Sicily, perched at around 700 metres on the north-eastern slopes of Mount Cammarata, which at 1,578 metres is the highest peak of the Sicani Mountains. With a population of about 6,000, this scenic "nativity-scene" village rises in tiers above the valley of the Platani river, deep in the green, forested heart of the island.

For travellers searching for Cammarata Sicily, the Sicani Mountains, hill towns near Agrigento or inland Sicilian villages, Cammarata offers medieval streets, mountain nature and a strong sense of authenticity.

History

The name Cammarata derives from the Byzantine Greek "kàmara," meaning a vaulted form, a clue to its ancient origins. Archaeological finds show the area was inhabited in Roman and even prehistoric times, but the first written record dates from 1141, when the Norman noblewoman Lucia di Cammarata donated the church of Santa Maria and several hamlets, bearing names of Arab origin, to the bishop of Cefalù. The present town took shape in the Norman period around its castle, first rebuilt in 1101, of which little now survives, while the old quarter preserves the tangled, stepped layout of its Saracen-era past.

Main sights and nature

The heart of the town is the Chiesa Madre dedicated to San Nicolò di Bari, surrounded by alleys and stairways that climb the rock. Cammarata is so closely joined to its twin town of San Giovanni Gemini that the two share a single street, and together they sit within the Sicani Mountains Park. The Monte Cammarata Nature Reserve, cloaked in conifer and broadleaf woods that turn almost alpine under winter snow, offers walking trails, picnic areas and panoramic views.

Practical information

Cammarata lies roughly 60 kilometres south-east of Palermo and about 35 to 50 kilometres north of Agrigento, making it a peaceful mountain base within reach of both the coast and the great temples of the south. It is best explored by car, as a summer retreat from the heat or a starting point for hikes in the Sicani highlands.