Donkeys on a leash!

Castelbuono is a charming town located in the province of Palermo. Nestled in the Madonie Mountains, Castelbuono offers picturesque landscapes and a rich historical heritage. Shortly after our arrival in Castelbuono, we learned about one of the town’s more unusual—and hardworking—residents: the donkeys. These donkeys are used to collect the town’s garbage/recycling and are especially handy for navigating the narrow medieval alleys that aren’t wide enough for cars. The mayor introduced this method of collecting the waste with the use of donkeys instead of trucks and its a fun spectacle to see!

A visit with the Vice Mayor

We were fortunate to meet with this creative mayor in the town hall. He spoke about the village hosting various cultural events and festivals throughout the year, attracting both local and international music enthusiasts. This is one busy little village!

Strolling through its streets is like entering a fairy tale: it seems as if you should be seeing ladies and knights parading with rustling brocade robes and complicated hairstyles.

Castello di Castelbuono

Castelbuono’s most famous attraction: its medieval castle. The Castle of Ventimiglia, also known as Castello di Castelbuono, means “good castle” in Italian. Construction on the castle began in the 14th century, and over the centuries it underwent changes and additions as members of the wealthy Ventimiglia family moved from Palermo to Castelbuono. Today, the castle houses the Castelbuono Civic Museum and a chapel featuring impressive medieval art. It offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

Palatine Chapel inside the castle

The influential counts, who rebelled against the Sicilian rulers, also had their own Palatine Chapel. This is a precious treasure trove, decorated with precious marble and enchanting stucco work on a pure gold leaf background by the brothers Giuseppe and Giacomo Serpotta (1684–87). Friezes commemorate the most resplendent moments in the history of the House of Ventimiglia. Behind the altar is the skull of Saint Anne, the town’s patron saint, inside a fine silver bust reliquary (from 1521.)

Panettone and Manna Tasting

Castelbuono is renowned for its production of traditional Sicilian sweets, especially the delicious “panettone,” a type of fruit-studded sweet bread, typically enjoyed during the Christmas season. We enjoyed a special tasting of the bread, which are shipped worldwide, including the U.S.

The panettone was spread with various types of manna cream. Manna is a solidified sugary sap that flows from incisions made on the trunks of special ash trees in the Madonie mountains. It is then dried in the hot summer sun, collected, and used as a sweetener, laxative, and even in cosmetics and medicine.

Many of us shopped at their store when we were done with the tasty treats. I did not buy anything…but the eye candy itself was enough! Europeans just know how to make beautiful product displays.

The Embroidery Tradition

The Sicilian hand embroidery tradition is not lost! These two very talented ladies, Maria and Giusy, design beautiful clothing. We were introduced to their work before they led us in a very simple embroidery activity of our own. Before leaving, they presented us each with a colorful apron!

A Working Lunch!

For lunch, we visited the home of Angela, and she too put us to work! One group was busy making marzipan, a confection consisting primarily of sugar, honey, and almond meal. The other group was making the cheese balls for our lunch.

We had a lovely time, and as with all of our Italian meals, the wine was present and tasty!

Goodbye Angela….we will always remember you and the fun we had at your house!