CALTAVUTURO

Caltavuturo is a town of about 5,300 inhabitants, located near the Rocca di Sciarra district, in the province of Palermo. Its name etimologically derives from Rocca dell'Avvoltoio, meaning the ‘Vulture Fortress’.

It preserves a number of fortifications. One of them is located by the Imera river’s upper valley, the site dating prior to the Arab occupation; west of this is a second fortification, the Fortezza di Sclafani. Both the fortresses were intended to protect the ancient Himera.

The city saw the Norman domination and, from the 15^th century onwards, the rule of various noble families, the earliest being the Sclafanis, the latest the Toledos.

It is well worth to take a walk along the gracious city streets, that differ in both origin and features. In fact, the town has an older side, of 1500’s origin, and a newer, that lies in proximity to the Chiesa Madre.

This, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, was built in the end of the 16^th century and successively restructured. It contains prized pieces among which a as a painting depicting The Adoration of the Magi stands out.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria La Nova, also known as the Badia, is simple in shape, with a single nave adorned with 1700’s stuccoes.