Mazzarino: the baroque pearl of the nisseno area
East of the Salso River, atop a hill 553 meters above sea level, stands Mazzarino, an ancient village in Sicily referred to as the pearl of Nissen baroque. Let’s discover together the history and points of interest of one of the most important destinations in the province of Caltanissetta.
The history of Mazzarino, from the Arabs to Sicilian lordship
Mazarin, dominated by the large castle of Roman-Byzantine origin, is part of the sicily’s oldest villages. Its history is determined by the ancient Carthaginian and Roman invasions. But what really made its mark was thearrival of the Arabs. Testifying to this is the structure of the urban center, built around an Arab castle whose ruins remain today. In 1143 its administration was assigned to Count Manfredi del Vasto, belonging to the branch of the Aleramici, who arrived in Sicily soon after the Norman conquest.
From 1304 until 1812 it was ruled by the long dynasty of the Branciforte family. A recognition goes to Carlo Maria Carafa Branciforti prince of Butera. He enriched the city both culturally and socially. Rese l‘free education, introduced numerous printing presses in the country and built monuments of considerable importance. The latter gave Mazarin a very interesting eighteenth-century urban layout that even attracted the famous director Damiano Damiani for the production of his political thriller “The Octopus“.
What to do in Mazarin? Monuments and traditions
Mazzarino
is a destination full of curiosities and places to discover. Among the most important ones are certainly the castles of the Mazzarinese territory: The Roman-Byzantine castle at the top of the village, also called as “u Cannuni” and the Salamone Castle more detached from the town and once the home of ancient Sicilian lords.
One prerogative of the village is definitely the more than twenty-five churches. Prominent among them are the Mother Church Santa Maria della Neve and the Basilica Maria SS. del Mazzaro. The first was designed by Angelo Italy and erected towards the end of the 16th century over the ruins of the ancient small church of Santa Maria della Neve. The second was erected in 1100 at the behest of Manfredi, was destroyed by earthquake in 1693 and was rebuilt in 1760.
Also not to be missed are Alberti Palace e Palazzo Branciforte, known for their important architectural value, and the old Jesuit Fathers’ College, where the church of St. Ignatius is located inside..
More detached from the town we find two archaeological areas dating from between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC: Mount Bubbonia located at 600 m a.s.l. that hosted a colony of Greeks and Statio Philosophiana, a Roman settlement on the border with the municipality of Piazza Armerina. Most of the findings from these two parks are preserved at the Museum “C.M.Carafa“. See more on the site of the Proloco of Mazzarino.
Speaking of art e culture we cannot fail to mention the initiative of the Farm Cultural Park of Favara, which recently opened an office in Mazzarino. Christened The Embassy of Farm, the project of urban regeneration fights the abandonment of small Sicilian villages. Read more here.
Mazzarino parties and events
Rites of Holy Week
The Easter season is very much felt in the village of Mazzarino. Each Good Friday the Rites of Holy Week include the simulation of the search for Jesus by Our Lady of Sorrows e the procession of Christ with the cross on her shoulder, followed by Roman soldiers to the little church of Calvary. Once you arrive in front of the building the statue of the dead christ is raised, made in the 600′ from fine African antelope skin. The simulacrum of Our Lady of Sorrows, Veronica and St. John is placed under the cross.
Come the evening of Good Friday, the Dead Christ is carried in procession by hooded men lying on a bed. Sunday ends the Rites of Holy Week in Madrice Square, with themeeting of Our Lady and the Risen Christ, along with the banners of St. Paul and St. Peter.
The Feast of the Holy Crucifix of the Elm
The feast of Holy Crucifix of the Elm is a ritual celebrated every year during the second Sunday in May in honor of the town’s co-patron saint. 120 barefoot men carry the precious wooden crucifix on their shoulders. which throughout the year is stored inside a 14-quintal wrought-iron sedan chair. The parade is held along downtown streets and is greeted by citizens with floral decorations and the Traditional yellow daisy necklaces called “u sciuri di maju“.
Feast of Our Lady of the Mazarus
The third Sunday in September is celebrated on the feast of Our Lady of the Mazzaro, patron saint of Mazarin. La statue of Our Lady, with her mantle adorned with gold, is carried on the shoulders of devotees along all the streets of the village. The sculpture of the Virgin, made of wood, depicts her seated with the Child on her lap and two angels on either side. The procession is preceded by a’another afternoon parade of the Madonna “dummannaredda” escorted by harnessed horses.
Events during the Christmas season
The mazarinese Christmas festivities are definitely a time of year when the warmth of the citizens is particularly felt. From December 16 to January 6, the “ninnareddi” as well as living nativity scenes made from reeds and pine branches, distributed throughout the village. They are meticulously decorated and animated with typical music. In addition, they have tables for the tasting of typical local Christmas products such as dishes made with thistles, cauliflower and spinach, or sweets such as cuddureddi, mustazzoli, rizzariddi, minnulini and le lumere.
Where to stay overnight in Mazzarino? The agritourisms of the nissen area
Maison de charme Tenuta Bartoli
Located 5.7 kilometers from Mazzarino is the Maison de charme Tenuta Bartoli born from the idea of Mimmi e Pietro Bartoli, eager to leave their Milan and move to Sicily, devoting themselves to the land, animals and tourists. It offers three comfortable lodgings nestled in the countryside of Nissena, numerous activities related to the processing of local products and guided excursions in the most famous and evocative historical centers of southeastern Sicily.
Farmhouse A.L.P.A
In Contrasto district is located the ALPA farmhouse, the perfect place to reconnect with nature and immerse yourself in the scents and colors of the Sicilian hinterland. Tourists here can participate in the productive activities of the company and stay overnight in the comfortable rooms and apartments provided by the facility. In addition, the farmhouse is equipped with a pool on terrace with panoramic view and a convention hall for meetings, classes and conferences. Visit their website!
Where to eat in Mazzarino?
In Mazzarino you can taste traditional Sicilian dishes. Some of the best venues include the Bar 24 Hours
Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Gran Caffe Pitino on 43 Resistance Avenue, La Cantina di Bacco and the
Tentazioni restaurant.
Dedicated instead to entertainment and a very young audience is the Club Pizzeria Flamingo, a day and night venue that places the utmost care in the selection of the raw materials in order to put on the table quality products to be accompanied with the local craft beers.
Luca Russo