A Day in Montalbano Elicona

We reached Montalbano Elicona on a sunny Sunday at the start of summer, taking the Messina-Palermo motorway, exiting at the Falcone junction and then following the Belvedere-S.Barbara-Montalbano road for about 18 km. The air was excellent, despite the muggy heat. Once in Montalbano we were immediately struck by the kindness of a woman at the tourist information office who offered to accompany us, in her own car no less, to the Castle of Frederick II. The old town centre offers numerous artistic views and the churches are full of truly precious pieces. We enjoyed a tasty lunch of local produce at the restaurant Testa dell'Acqua (ctd. Melizzo - 98065 MONTALBANO ELICONA - ME - tel: 0941 679577), just above Montalbano. The name of this restaurant comes from the fact that nearby there is a mineral water spring, which is bottled on site and sold almost everywhere.

The local specialities are provole and bread. But also the so-called "majorkino" cheese, and the delicious cured meats (salami and hams) from the black Nebrodi pig. In the craft field, worth noting are wrought iron, furniture, carved stone and embroidery. Also worth seeing are the megaliths and all the evocative views that, on that June Sunday, gave us a truly special day. Fabio & Cristina.