Holiday apartment in Ginestra: Memorial, trails and Serra della Pizzuta

The Memoriale di Portella della Ginestra represents historical significance and collective identity, while the Sentiero della Pizzuta and the Sentiero delle Neviere offer different perspectives on the landscape.

Holiday apartment in Ginestra between remembrance and land art

The Memoriale di Portella della Ginestra was recognised as a place of cultural interest because of its historical significance and as a unique testimony to collective identity and the history of institutions. Since 15 September 2010, the site of Portella della Ginestra has been listed under number 132 in the Register of Sicily’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. The memorial is located in the hamlet of Portella Ginestra, within the municipality of Monreale, and is regarded as Italy’s first land-art project.

Large boulders reminiscent of menhirs at the Memoriale di Portella della Ginestra are arranged around the Sasso di Barbato. This arrangement makes the design of the memorial particularly striking and complements its historical dimension with a clearly recognisable artistic form. No fixed visiting hours are provided for the Memoriale di Portella della Ginestra; visiting arrangements may change without prior notice.

Landscape, trails and nature observation

The 4-kilometre Sentiero della Pizzuta begins at Portella della Ginestra and leads to the southern slope of the Serra della Pizzuta nature reserve. When planning a hike, the four-kilometre length can be considered a clearly defined trail section in its own right. In the Serre della Pizzuta nature reserve, the summit of Pizzuta reaches an elevation of 1,333 metres. Karst processes have formed the Zubbione and Garrone caves there, with deposits and sinter formations, two small lakes, and a significant bat colony.

The Sentiero delle Neviere leads as far as the hamlet of Strasatto-Ginestra. Near the Targia watering trough, you can park your car and follow the Sentiero Italia markers through the northern valley of the mountain massif. The possibility of parking your car near the Targia watering trough provides a practical reference point for reaching this section.

Insights into agriculture and local cuisine

The Agriturismo Portella della Ginestra is located in the Serra della Pizzuta nature reserve, in a former 18th-century farmhouse. It operated from 2005 onwards and was run by the Placido Rizzotto – Libera Terra cooperative. The agriturismo’s cuisine uses organic products from Libera Terra and wines from Centopassi.

The Ecostruttura at the Centro Ippico Giuseppe Di Matteo was intended as an open space for promoting culture and educational programmes on legality in the Alto Belice Corleonese area and beyond. It is located at the Centro Ippico Giuseppe Di Matteo in Contrada Ginestra, on the SP 34 at kilometre 4.2.

More places for planning your trip

For further trip planning, you can also explore Cerda, Marineo, Caltavuturo, Castelbuono, Aspra, Monreale, Isola Delle Femmine and Partinico.

To the main travel overview: Palermo.