Palma di Montechiaro, the city of the Tomasi family

A few kilometers from the Valley of the Temples, on a hill, stands Palma di Montechiaro, the unforgettable city of the Leopard. Built to be the little Jerusalem that would grant the same indulgence to the faithful like those who went to the Holy City. The pretty church of Sant'Angelo which has hosted the faithful since 1600 is made particular by the majolicas that make up the pavement. It is a classroom church built at the behest of the Tomasi family to which a small structure was annexed that had the task of hosting the orphans, the church houses various works such as the Madonna del Carmelo in the act of delivering the scapular to San Simone Scoppa. A large altarpiece placed at the altar depicting the prophet Elijah. On the other side of the municipal villa there is a beautiful staircase that frames the Mother Maria Santissima del Rosario church, the most important sacred building in the city. Inside there are beautiful red columns, the undisputed symbol of the church, on the sides of the nave are placed on the left entirely covered in polychrome marble the chapel of the Santissimo which houses the precious wooden crucifix, on the right the chapel of Maria Santissima del Rosario which houses the road line of the Madonna. The church is enriched with gold ornaments and frescoes. Not far away is the small church of the Collegio di Maria, characterized by a series of works of art, particular are the two sculptor works, the Madonna dell'Assunta and the body of Santa Clacida whose remains were brought by the will of the Tomasi to Montechiaro. Particular is the copy of the holy shroud commissioned by the Tomasi that is kept in the church. The economy of the city is mainly agricultural such as grapes, cantaloupe and many others. Another economy of the city is tourism, linked to the history of the city. The city was officially born in 1347 at the behest of the Tomasi, even if in reality there are even more ancient traces of its origins. The Palazzo Ducale dei Tomasi was built in 1653, the characteristic of the building is that it is divided into two elevations above ground, the first used as a warehouse and the second used as a noble house characterized by painted wooden lacunar ceilings. The ceilings represent the cultural and religious history of the Tomasi. From the height of Monte Palmario the view is dominated by the church of Santa Maria della Luce, dating back to around 1600 and constituted the final stage of the Via Crucis commissioned by the Tomasi. In the hamlet of Marina di Palma it includes 17 km of coastline. From the coast it is possible to use a boat to visit the coast, during the journey it is possible to admire the islet of Rocca Patella. Along the coast you can admire Cala Vincenzina and the beach of the Castle. This castle was built by the Chiaramonte and then arrived at the Tomasi family, the Castle contains an important statue of the Sicilian Renaissance artist Galgino. The fortress relives the procession of the Madonna twice a year.