Racalmuto: The Hometown of Leonardo Sciascia

Perched on a hillside at 445 meters above sea level, Racalmuto likely dates back to Arab rule. After being nearly abandoned due to the plague in the 14th century, the town flourished again around the 13th-century Castello Chiaramonte (Chiaramonte Castle), recognizable by its twin cylindrical towers. Racalmuto features elegant landmarks such as the 18th-century Chiesa Madre dell’Annunziata (Mother Church of the Annunciation) – home to paintings by Pietro d’Asaro -, the former monastery now serving as City Hall and the charming Regina Margherita Theater. This quiet hill town is also the birthplace of acclaimed writer Leonardo Sciascia (1921–1989), who spent most of his life here and now rests in its small cemetery.