Giardinello
Discovering Giardinello: the small village in Sicily
Welcome to Giardinello, a town in the metropolitan city of Palermo in Sicily. With a population of 2,267 people, this small town is located southwest of Palermo, on the southern slope of Pizzo Montanello. Its municipal territory covers an area of 12.49 km² and borders Monreale to the east, Borgetto and Partinico to the south, Carini to the west, and Montelepre to the north.
The territory and history
Giardinello was named in Sicilian, "Jardineḍḍu", due to the numerous gardens of citrus fruits, olive trees, and fruit trees that once populated its territory. This village is located 275 meters above sea level and is about 27 km from Palermo, 2 km from Montelepre, and 9 km from Partinico. Its history is marked by monuments and places of interest, although the territory offers many other tourist attractions.
Monuments of Giardinello
Among the historical and artistic monuments of Giardinello is the mother church, built in the first half of the seventeenth century by Francesco Bargellini and dedicated to St. Anne, which later became sacramental and was then dedicated to Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. It is located near the Niscemi Baronial Palace, dating back to the late eighteenth century. You can also admire the Church of Mary Most Holy of Mercy, a farmhouse converted into a church in the early twentieth century by Captain Miceli.
The curious "Café House" or "Cafiausu," named by American soldiers during World War II in the local accent, is a belvedere consisting of eight columns arranged in an octagon, with a covering adorned with geometric reliefs. It dates back to the first half of the eighteenth century and was used as a meeting place by the landowners of the area. The nineteenth-century public washhouse, consisting of 20 basins fed by the waters of the Scorsone spring, is another very interesting place to visit.
The "Tomb of the Giant" located in Sagana is a funerary monument, that is, a funerary monument in memory of a character buried elsewhere, which was once believed to be the tomb of a giant or a Saracen warrior of noble origins. Finally, the "Fountain of Rebirth" is a bronze group of three nymphs, a work of 1960 by the Palermo sculptor Benedetto De Lisi.
Traditions and folklore
In addition to the monuments and places of interest, Giardinello is famous for its traditions and folklore. Every year, on the occasion of the feast of Corpus Christi, the community organizes a splendid flower festival and begins the preparation of the triumph and the twelve chapels that recreate the equally significant moments of the life of Christ.
The surroundings of Giardinello
In the surrounding areas, in Sagana, there is a royal hunting lodge built in the eighteenth century. Also in the area of Sagana is the archaeological reserve of Monte Castellaccio, a site of archaeological interest known for the presence of a necropolis dating back to the phase of the Thapsos-Diaspora culture, between the end of the fourth century and the beginning of the third century BC.
Conclusions
Giardinello, the small Sicilian village, is a charming reference point for those who want to get to know and experience authentic Sicily and its traditions. If you are planning a trip to the Palermo area, don't miss the opportunity to discover this hidden gem.
