Holiday apartment in Vicari: Castle, Palazzo and local history

Vicari combines an impressive architectural history with festive tradition and its own culinary speciality. A holiday apartment in Vicari is therefore a suitable starting point if you would like to get to know a place through its defining buildings, religious art, Arab architecture and local customs.

Holiday apartment in Vicari between the castle and Palazzo

The castle of Vicari stands on a rock at an altitude of around 700 m and towers over the entire town. Its history can be traced back to the year 881: the castle is already documented in records for that year. Its prominent location makes it a particularly striking feature of the townscape.

The Palazzo Pecoraro Maggi was the residence of Vicari’s most important family, the Pecoraro family, for more than three centuries. Its first floor is the noble floor and has decorated vaulted ceilings. Since May 2022, the Palazzo has also housed a gallery of sacred art. Family history, representative interiors and sacred art thus come together in one building.

Church and Arab architectural history

The Chiesa Madrice was built around 1200 and features Mannerist elements on its façade. Together with the castle and Palazzo Pecoraro Maggi, it offers you different ways to explore Vicari’s architectural and cultural history.

Another special place is the Cuba di Ciprigna. It is an emblematic building and an architectural testament to Arab culture in Vicari. The Cuba di Ciprigna is believed to have served as a cistern and was probably part of the Arab aqueduct network. The cautious statements about its former function make it an interesting subject for anyone who would like to take a closer look at historic buildings and their possible connections.

Passavolante and the San Giorgio festival

Vicari’s distinctive character is expressed not only in stone and architecture. Passavolante is a typical sweet speciality from Vicari, made from almonds, sugar and egg whites. This speciality gives your travel plans a specific culinary connection to the town.

The San Giorgio festival is celebrated on 23 May. It includes a traditional equestrian procession with figures in historic costumes and richly decorated horses. The fixed date and distinctive format make it a suitable cultural highlight for a trip during which you would like to experience a local custom alongside the sights.

Access and practical orientation on site

The castle and Palazzo differ considerably in terms of access. You reach the castle of Vicari via stairs; there is no ramp for people with disabilities. The Palazzo Pecoraro Maggi, on the other hand, can be accessed via a ramp for people with disabilities. When planning your visits, this specific difference between the two historic buildings is an important point to bear in mind.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Vicari, you can tailor your stay to your own interests: the castle, Palazzo Pecoraro Maggi and Chiesa Madrice are ideal for a focus on history and architecture, while the Cuba di Ciprigna offers another perspective on Arab culture. Passavolante complements these themes with a local sweet speciality, and San Giorgio marks a special date in the annual calendar with 23 May.

Discover more places

If you would like to visit other destinations in addition to Vicari, you can also find Capaci, Masseria D'amari, Torretta, Montemaggiore Belsito, Paterna, Castronovo Di Sicilia, Termini Imerese and Bolognetta.

For the higher-level travel overview: Palermo.