Surroundings, Palermo

To the north of Cefalà Diana, 4km/2mi from Villafrati and reached from there along a side road, are some Arabian baths (Bagni di Cefalà) situated by a bridge. Their date is uncertain (probably 11th century). This site, situated not far from the River Cefalà and a thermal spring, must be one of the most remarkable legacies of Arabian building to be found in Sicily. On the outer wall there are ornamental stripes with Kufic inscriptions. The interior is a room 14x6.50m/46x21ft in size with a barrel-vaulted roof and three deep basins. The rear section of the room is separated off by two pillars which support three stilted arches.The building was for a long time used as a drinking-place for cattle, but recently it has been restored and opened to the public.

Castello di Calatamauro (5km/3mi west) is a fortified castle of Arab origin situated at a height of 764m/2,507ft.

On this mountain 557m/1,827ft high (10km/6mi northwest) lie the ruins of the Elymian town of Entella, which in ancient times was mentioned on several occasions in the wars between Syracuse and Carthage. It continued to exist until its destruction at the hands of Emperor Frederick II in the 13th century.

The Chiesa Madre in Corleone dates from the 15th century and contains statues by G. B. Li Volsi. In addition the remains of ancient fortifications can be seen.

On the Punta di Priola to the southeast, there are several caves, including the Addaura Grotto, in which drawings scratched on the rocks and other prehistoric finds have been discovered. These pictures of animals and humans are similar to other examples at Lascaux in France and Altamira in Spain.

The church of St Giorgio is also dedicated to St George; in accordance with orthodox custom the chancel is separated from the body of the church by a screen with icons.

In the 16th century church of San Demetrio in Piana degli Albanesi can be seen some Late Byzantine icons and an apse decorated by Pietro Novelli.

On the southeastern edge of Piana degli Albanesi stands an obelisk carrying the date 24th May 1860, the day when Garibaldi and his troops marched through here.

In 1923 a reservoir, the Lago Piana degli Albanesi, was built south of Piana degli Albanesi to generate electrical power.

In the Chiesa Madre in Polizzi can be seen reliefs by Domenico Gagini (1482) and an old Dutch triptych; the middle panel measures 158 by 123cm/64 by 50in and shows the Madonna on a throne between four angels playing harps, while the side panels portray Catharine of Alexandria and Barbara. The triptych is the masterpiece of the late 15th century "master with the embroidered leaves" from Brussels. The tablet carried by one of the singing angels shows the musical score and words of "Ave Regina" by Walter Frye, who was employed at the Burgundian court c. 1450.There is evidence that the picture has been in Polizzi since 1523.

The Monte Pellegrino, described by Goethe as "the most beautiful foothills in the world", rises to a height of 609m/2,000ft from the plain lying close to the sea north of Palermo.HistoryFinds made by archaeologists in the Addaura Cave show that man has lived here for thousands of years. In ancient times the mountain was known as Heirkte; in 278-277 B.C. Pyrrhos captured it from the Carthaginians, in 248 Hamilcar took possession of it and resisted Roman attacks on it for three years. In the 17th century it was linked with the name of St Rosalia and became one of the main places of pilgrimage in Sicily, and so became known as Monte Pellegrion (Pilgrims' Mountain). Legend links it with the uprising of the barons, led by Matteo Bonello, against King William I and his Grand Admiral Maio of Bari, when the king was taken prisoner and Maio murdered. Matteo Bonello then set up residence in the castle at Cáccamo.Legend has it that after this uprising, in which her father Count Sinibaldo della Quisquina also took part, the young noblewoman Rosalia left the royal court and became a recluse in a cave on the mountainside, where she died on fourth September 1166 after leading a saintly existence. On 15th July 1625 she appeared before two hermits and directed them to the cave where she had lived. There they found her body and a stone with her name on it. When her mortal remains were taken to Palermo an epidemic which had been raging there suddenly ceased; since then she has been the city's patron saint. She is remembered particularly on 13th-15th July, when the people celebrate the finding of her bones, and on fourth September, the anniversary of her death.