10 captivating shots to capture in Gratteri
Every corner of Gratteri, a municipality located a few kilometres away from Cefalù, tells a unique story. Here are at least 10 strategic points where you can take your most beautiful photos to capture the magic of the village.
Carrubbedda
It is located on the outskirts of the town. Its name comes from the presence of a carob tree that is mentioned as far back as the Revels of the 1500s. From there, a real nativity scene opens up before you, a corner of the most authentic Sicily.
Ponte dell'Ecce Homo
Continuing towards the Belvedere, stop at the Ecce Homo bridge, where there is a votive shrine of Christ. A photo from that angle is a must to immortalise a pleasant bucolic landscape of bygone days with lush pastures in front of the charming little church of the Convent with its medieval bell tower. On a clear day, it will not be difficult for you to catch a glimpse of the entire valley up to the San Calogero mountain overlooking the Gulf of Termini Imerese.
Belvedere Ganci Battaglia
This is one of the strategic points from which to admire the Tyrrhenian coast from Cefalù to Palermo and, on clear days, even glimpse the Aeolian islands on the horizon. A sunset photo is a must from what has been called the ‘terrace on the Tyrrhenian’.
Via Parisea
From above that fortress, called Santu Vitu by the inhabitants, an equally fascinating scenario of the ‘newer’ part of the town, the ideal pose of a characteristic Sicilian landscape, will unfold before you in an unexpected way.
Piazzetta Scala
A bucolic landscape will open up before you and an idyllic panorama of the San Giorgio valley where you can take your most beautiful photos from different angles: perhaps in front of the stone drinking trough or the small church of the Crucifix overlooking the sea, like a glimpse of a picturesque landscape of Greek islets.
Matrice Vecchia
The original area of the old castle with characteristic narrow streets where you can get lost both day and night. You will find the ideal perspective to take your photo; perhaps looking out onto the church plateau to capture a suggestive view above the ‘Bocca dell’Inferno’ (Hell’s Mouth), or under the Dammuso, an authentic medieval subway from which the stronghold was accessed. A unicum in the Madonite panorama. Treat yourself to a postcard that comes straight from the Middle Ages.
Orologio
Arriving in the vicinity of the ancient clock tower, one of Gratteri’s symbols, we also recommend a shot from Via Belvedere to photograph from above a characteristic landscape that dominates the Piazzetta del Mulinello.
Chiasso Alberto
You will take a shot of a characteristic and well-kept corner of the old Saracen quarter near what was referred to in 1500 as the Old Vucciria.
Piazzetta Mulinello
You have arrived in the neighbourhood of la Porta Grandi, accessed from Vicolo Albanese on the edge of the Crati stream, now covered. Continue on to the Piazzetta, then lift your eyes to the ancient Clock Tower, you will find yourself before one of the most evocative places in the Madonie.
Museo
After a much-needed visit to the museum, we suggest you take a photo from that viewpoint, from which you can see what remains of the La Terra Vecchia quarter in the area known as the Conigliera with its walls precipitously above the ‘Bocca Inferno’.
