| Sperlinga | ||
.jpg/250px-94010_Sperlinga_EN,_Italy_-_panoramio_(1).jpg) | ||
Coat of arms  | ||
| State | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Sicily | |
| Territory | Ennese | |
| Altitude | 750 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 59.14 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 708 (2020) | |
| Name inhabitants | sperlinghesi | |
| Prefix tel | 39 0935 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 94010 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | St. John Baptist | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Sperlinga, is a city of the Sicily and is classified among the Most beautiful villages in Italy.
To know
The whole town was built by Prince Natoli, a family member of the King of France, with a "license populandi cum privileium aedificandi" issued by several kings of European countries and by the king of Sicily who recognized his title of Sovereign Prince of the whole territory elected to principality. His Highness Natoli promulgated several innovative laws bringing Sperlinga to its moment of maximum splendor.
The people of Sperling do not have a dialect but a real language, which derives from the Gallo-Italian language, a mixture of French and Lombard from northern Milanese Italy.
Background
Sperlinga was already inhabited in prehistoric times, and considered a sacred place and cemetery, but since 1597 it has been linked to the millenary dynasty of the Princes family Natoli.
The town, born as a feudal village at the foot of the medieval Norman castle, expanded from 1597 onwards, when King Philip II granted Giovanni Natoli (Gianforte or Giovanni Forti Natoli), the title of prince of Sperlinga, and the privilege of to be able to make land there.
Prince Natoli had the church dedicated to St. John the Baptist built outside the walls of the Castle, whose first parish deeds date back to 1612 and developed the whole village. His son Francesco Natoli ceded the castle and the feudal property to the Oneto in 1658, with the title of Dukes of Sperlinga, but the Natoli always kept the title of princes of Sperlinga, for all their descendants both in male and female lines.
How to orient yourself
Sperlinga: full screen map.Neighborhoods
The areas of Contrada Rossa, Cicera, Perciata, Grotta Vecchia, and within the inhabited center that of the "Leap" dug in a row and superimposed with picturesque streets in front of them which together constitute a rupestrian village.
- The Rupestrian Village (ę Ruttə)
- Via Valle (in Vaǫ)
- The Sperlinga Wood (Ǫ Boscǫ)
- Contrada Capostrà where the famous photo of Robert Capa was taken during the world war
How to get
How to get around
What see
- 1 The castle. The Sperlinga Castle is a rare example of a rock castle, partly carved into the rock and probably dating back to the period prior to the pre-Greek Sicilians (XII-VIII century BC), partly built on the same rock, around the year 1080. It is it was the seat of the Counts of Ventimiglia until 1597, then of the Princes of Sperlinga Natoli (1598 - 1658), and then of the Dukes of Sperlinga Oneto (1658-1861), the last of whom granted it in emphyteusis to Baron Nunzio Nicosia, the whose descendants donated it to the town of Sperlinga in 1973, on the occasion of the birth of an eldest descendant of the Natoli dynasty.
- There is a posthumous Latin inscription carved on the pointed arch in the entrance hall of the Castle, by the Prince of the Castle Giovanni Natoli: "QUOD SICULIS PLACUIT SOLA SPERLINGA NEGAVIT", this posthumous writing probably refers to the events of the Sicilian Vespers (1282) when a French garrison of Angevins locked themselves inside the castle and resisted the siege for over a year, is one of the longest resistances in military history, the surrender it only happened because of the end of food supplies.
Events and parties
- Cattle Fair.
June, August and September. - The Princess of the Castle. August 16. together with others from the Gallo-Italic countries, he participates in the historical parade, made up of historical characters, in period costume, who parade along the streets of the town. A jury will elect the Lady of the Gallo-Italic countries. The evening in Piazza Castello is enlivened by representations of historical events, fireworks, songs and dances. The event is characterized by historical re-enactments on the life of the Sperlinga Castle and the deeds of the millennial dynasty of the Princes Natoli, with historical re-enactments.
- Tortone Festival. October 16. This folkloric event consists in the distribution and tasting of typical local foods, an expression of the best and most genuine culinary tradition of the place. The event is very characteristic because it takes place in the open space in front of the suggestive rock castle of Sperlinga, dug into the millenary rock. The event is characterized by historical re-enactments on the life of the Sperlinga Castle. The Tortone Festival was born in 1982 on the occasion of the seventh centenary of the Sicilian Vespers.
June, August and September.What to do
Shopping
Sperlinga is known for various artisanal productions, including the so-called artistic ones "frazzate", of medieval origin, colorful hand-woven carpets on old wooden looms, a combination of history, culture and popular traditions.
How to have fun
Where to eat
Sperlinga boasts a conspicuous production of the highest biological quality of olives, citrus fruits but also of wheat, fodder and flower production.
The local organic breeding of cattle and sheep and all derived products that can be tasted in particular during the Cattle Fair held in the months of June, August and September. Among the typical local dishes is known the frasca tela, a particular polenta made from durum wheat or cicerchia flour, with lard and broccoli.
Among the sweet types the cassata, and the famous Tortone, it is not a large cake, but a local dessert, made with bread dough, fried in oil, and sprinkled with cinnamon and made with local organic products including flour kneaded and leavened, olive oil and sugar sprinkled on the molds.
