What to see, things to do, what to eat, interesting facts
State: PA - Area: Cefalù and Madonie
Gangi is a splendid medieval village located among the Madonie mountains and nestled at the top of Monte Marrone. Gangi has legendary origins and was founded in 1200 BC. by the Cretans who arrived in Sicily in search of Daedalus, following Minos, and took the name of Engyum, from which Gangi. The first documents that attest to the The existence of Gangi dates back to the 12th century. The ancient town was destroyed in 1299 at the hands of Frederick III during the War of the Vespers. It was rebuilt on a nearby mountain, Mount Marone. From the 13th century the county of Geraci, to which Gangi belonged, came under the domination of the Ventimiglia nobles. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, in Gangi, the number of religious orders representing opportunities for training and education increased, and various places of worship were built. The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were periods of great evolution on a social and cultural level. In the eighteenth century numerous academies of men of letters arose, including that of the Industriosi. In the nineteenth century the urban fabric of the town was defined with the construction of valuable noble palaces.
Where is Gangi located? Gangi is a municipality in the province of Palermo. It rises at approximately 1010 meters above sea level, approximately 50 km from the Tyrrhenian coast. It is 120 km from the city of Palermo, 120 km from the city of Catania, 60 km from the city of Cefalù and 45 km from the city of Enna. Its territory falls within the Parco delle Madonie.
How to reach Gangi? The simplest way to reach Gangi is to use your own car and take the A19 Palermo-Catania motorway, exit at the junction for Irosa, and continue on the SP19 direction Alimena. Alimena is about 28 km from the motorway junction. Gangi does not have its own train station so those who want to travel by train must refer to the nearest train stations and from there take a bus or shuttle to the town. The closest train stations to Gangi are Tusa, Pollina, Leonforte-Pirato or Villarosa.
What is the best time to visit Gangi ?
Gangi can be visited all year round: the welcome and warmth of the Sicilians will amaze you.
But for an unforgettable experience, admiring the colors, tasting the flavors and fully experiencing the traditions, it is advisable to plan a visit on the days of one of the festivals that take place in Gangi during the year.
If you want to know about upcoming festivals and events Click here and you will find a list of the most important ones.
Traditional Festivals, Events, Live Show, Concerts,... Gangi
Among the celebrations and festivals that take place in the village of Gangi, the Sagra della Spiga is of great importance, a rural event that is intertwined with the pagan myth of Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. Among the other celebrations and festivals we remember: the Gangi carnival with the traditional Cravaccata; the wild boar festival which is traditionally held on the occasion of the agro-zootechnical exhibition of Gangi. Among the religious festivals, the feast of the Holy Spirit which takes place on Pentecost Monday is of great importance, during which a procession takes place in which they take part around 40 simulacra of saints. Among the other festivals we remember: the festival of San Cataldo, protector of Gangi; the rites of Holy Week; the Living Nativity scene which takes place among the suggestive alleys of the historic centre.
Typical food, local wines and drinks, traditional dish to taste in Gangi
You can obviously taste all the typical products of Sicilian cuisine, the most well-known ones, such as
cannoli, Sicilian cassata, arancini, etc.
But there are some specialties typical of this area that are more difficult to find in other areas of Sicily.
Among the typical dishes of the village of Gangi, the tradition of manual production of pasta and bread stands out. In particular, tagliarini are known, i.e. hand-made tagliatelle, artistic bread, u Fasciddatu, and desserts such as sfinci ca crema ; the turrunetta; Taralli and Cucchia. Among the first courses, Pasta alla Gangi stands out, made with rigati macaroni seasoned with white cauliflower, cherry tomato, raisins and pine nuts.
To view a list of business activity within tourism in Gangi Click here
Interesting and Fun Facts
Interesting and fun facts, mythology, legend, folk tales and more to know about Gangi
