If you wish to discover an authentic corner of the Madonie, far from mass tourism, there is a route that will take you right into the heart of Gratteri, a village full of history and charm.
It starts from the Belvedere Ganci Battaglia, a vantage point that offers a breathtaking view of the Tyrrhenian coast. On a clear day, even the Aeolian islands can be glimpsed on the horizon. From here, Gratteri truly looks like a terrace suspended over the sea.
Walking along its narrow streets, one passes through centuries of history. From the green pastures that look like something out of a nativity scene to the small medieval church, every corner tells something. And then there is the Bocca dell’Inferno (Hell’s Mouth), a mysterious spot suddenly appearing between the ancient walls, a chasm that still fascinates those who visit it.
Along the way you will come across fountains, old medieval bridges and views that seem to have stood still in time. Among the unmissable stops, it is impossible not to mention the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, guardian of precious relics and works of art, and the Church of San Giacomo, protector of Gratteri, where the beautiful simulacrum of the Apostle is located.
And there is no shortage of surprises, such as the small cistern hidden under the streets, which once supplied water to the entire village. It is the Crati torrent that divides the village in two, separating the old part from the new.
Gratteri is like this: a mix of nature, legends and history that reveals itself step by step, leaving each time a different emotion.
