CINISI
Cinisi
is a city located at few kilometres from Palermo at about 75m a.s.l.
It has a population of nearly 9,000 inhabitants.
It
originates from 1383 when the Benedectines from the Monastery of
Santa Maria delle Scale were granted the fief of Cinisi.
The
city is endowed with both naturalistic and cultural riches. The
town is landmarked by a number of towers. The tower-castle, dating
prior to the Benedictines’ arrival in town, was restored and
converted by them into an abbey. Others lookout towers, set along
the coast, date back to the second half of the 16th century.
The
visit to Cinisi’s attractions begins with the Chiesa Madre
dedicated to the patron Santa Fara. This, dating from the 17th century,
has a single nave embellished with polychrome marble decorations.
It contains several works of art such as an altarpiece and a subterranean
crypt with numerous tunnels and tombs.
Just
off the town, is the 1700’s Santuario della Madonna del Furi,
built near the creek of the same name where were reported miraculous
apparitions of the Virgin. Other churches deserve a mention, notably
the 1800’s Anime del Purgatorio’s and SS. Sacramento’s,
the latter with subterranean crypts that were restored of recent.
The
coastline, mainly rocky, is as much interesting with spots of naturalistic
importance and rich citrus groves. Other interesting naturalistic
sites are provided by the Piano Margi, Piano Tavola and Bosco Santocanale
districts.
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