Outdoors adventure in Castelbuono, among monumental holly trees at Piano Pomo and Ventimiglia Castle

Last Updated: October 12, 2024

Gita fuori porta a Castelbuono, fra gli agrifogli monumentali di Piano Pomo e il Castello dei Ventimiglia

More than 200 monumental trees have been counted in Sicily. Among these are the extraordinary giant holly trees of Piano Pomo, just a few kilometers from Castelbuono, reachable with an easy walk from the Crispi Refuge at Piano Sempria. These trees are centuries old, reaching around 15 meters in height, over 300 years old, and produce beautiful red berries in the autumn.

Unfortunately, in the past, there was indiscriminate harvesting of these holly trees for Christmas decorations and, in earlier times, as a way to protect pantries from mice. However, they are now protected by a net. According to a publication from the Madonie Park, such impressive specimens are not found anywhere else in Italy or Europe, except for some in England, Germany, and Norway. These holly trees are a relic of tertiary vegetation that survived in parts of Europe during the quaternary glaciations.

Along the way back to Castelbuono, you can see views of the valley and nearby towns such as Pollina, San Mauro Castelverde, and Geraci Siculo. Castelbuono, dominated by its imposing Castle, suggests distant memories. The Castle now houses the Civic Museum and tells the history of the Ventimiglia family, who were originally from Genoa and later moved to Sicily, establishing a strong connection with Castelbuono and bringing with them the Sacred Relic of the Skull of Saint Anna.

Visit the Civic Museum and the Minà Palumbo Museum to learn more about the history of Castelbuono and the Ventimiglia family. The area between Castelbuono and the nearby town of Pollina is the only place in the world where ash trees are cultivated to produce a valuable product, manna, which is still used today for food and cosmetic purposes. Visitors can also explore the area with the Madonie Explorers Cooperative, which offers tours to a manna producer, half-day treks, donkey walks, and excursions with shepherds. The Civic Museum and the Minà Palumbo Museum are open from 10 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm, closed on Mondays.