Centuripe
Centuripe is an east-central Sicilian town that succeeds in recreating the blow of ancient times. The ancient Centuripae is nevertheless kept behind a mystery veil, but Hellenistic houses with their wall paintings join the Roman antiquities in revealing some aspects of the ancient lifestyle.
The origin of the name is not quite certain. Scholars think that it may be related to Kentoripa, the name of a 4th century BC Greek colony. During the Roman domination, the town met huge economic and cultural success. Subsequently, it didn’t meet the same abundance during Aragonese and Angevin occupations which rather marked a period of destruction and deportation of the inhabitants. In 1548 the town reappeared on Sicily’s map due to the renewal initiatives of Count Aderno Francesco Moncada.
Centuripe of present times appears as a wonderful mountain center mainly sustained by agriculture. Economical life revolves around wheat, citrus, fruit and olives production that form quite a picturesque sight. For this reason, locals organize the local Agricultural Fair in September, an event that gathers a considerable amount of viewers. After roaming the various agrarian cultures, visitors can check out the outstanding monuments of which the most impressive are the Chiesa Madre (Mother Church) which is a dedication to Immaculate Conception dating from the 17th century and the Castle of the Corandin, a Roman construction of the Imperial era.
The territory bears generous archaeological extension marked by several areas such as the Difesa area which is the host of a Roman construction, the Panneria area which gathers a considerable amount of Hellenistic remnants and the Bagni area which offers a rather decrepit image of a thermal bath station dating from the Imperial age.
The local museum is the right choice if you wish to closely study Hellenistic terra-cottas, beautifully manufactured vases and relics of excavated tombs. Also, local mineral springs are highly attractive due to their curative properties.
If your next holiday destination is southern Sicily, make sure you include Centuripe on your list or you will be missing out on outstanding manufacture, impressive archaeological remnants and a few quiet and rich days.