Ficuzza
A brief description of Ficuzza
Ficuzza is a small village located in the province of Palermo, with a population of only 146 residents. It is situated in the center of the homonymous state forest, and was founded by King Ferdinand I of Two Sicilies in 1799 as a hunting residence. Over time, it became a popular tourist destination for the nobility of Palermo and was declared a mountain climatic station in 1901. Today, Ficuzza is a nature reserve with a rich history and historical monuments that make it a fascinating place to visit.
History of Ficuzza
Ficuzza was founded by King Ferdinand I of Two Sicilies in 1799 as a hunting residence. The king acquired the feuds of Cappelliere, Lupo, and Ficuzza, which were previously owned by the clergy, to build the Real Casina di Caccia of Ficuzza. During the twentieth century, the village became a popular tourist destination for the nobility of Palermo and was declared a mountain climatic station in 1901. However, its development stopped after World War II when the Regional Administration of Forests and Public Lands of the Sicilian Region denied further concessions of state-owned lands. In 1948, the forest area was entrusted to the Regional Public Forest Company for reforestation, and in 2000 it was designated as a nature reserve. In 1977, the main square of the village was the location where the mafia killed the carabinieri colonel Giuseppe Russo.
Monuments and places of interest
Civil architecture
Real Casina di Caccia
The Real Casina di Caccia of Ficuzza was built for King Ferdinand I of Two Sicilies in the Ficuzza park starting in 1799. The palace's facade is rectangular and severe, designed by Father Giuseppe Venanzio Marvuglia, in collaboration with his pupil Nicolò Puglia in the early nineteenth century. In 2009, the palace was reopened to the public.
Obelisk La Guglia
The obelisk, built by the Bourbons, is located at the crossroad of the road to Palermo and is formed by a vertical prism with a quadrangular section surmounted by a truncated pyramid that shows geographical inscriptions.
Drinking fountain
The drinking fountain, contemporary to the Real Casina di Caccia, is made up of an isolated body in calcareous stone from the nearby Rocca Busambra in a rectangular shape. The initial part is vertical with a pediment with a circular tympanum and sculpted frame, with a dripstone with Gorgon head on a stone basin.
Railway structures
In 1884, the village was reached by the narrow-gauge railway line Ferrovia Palermo-Corleone-San Carlo. Today, the railway is no longer in use and has become a pedestrian and cycle path that winds through the nature reserve, offering panoramic views of the forest.
Conclusions
Ficuzza is a fascinating village in Corleone, located in the center of the homonymous state forest. Founded by King Ferdinand I of Two Sicilies in 1799 as a hunting residence, it was a popular tourist destination for the nobility of Palermo during the twentieth century and is now a nature reserve with historical monuments that make it a must-visit place. Among the most important monuments are the Real Casina di Caccia, the Obelisk La Guglia, the drinking fountain, and the railway structures. Ficuzza is an ideal destination for nature and history lovers.
