Collesano

This village, which is deep in the Madonie Mountains, is a picturesque place with ancient winding streets and charming stone houses huddled together on the mountaintop. First settled by Arab conquerors in the 10th century, it became an essential feudal town between the Roccella River and the Madonie.

Its strategic mountain location made it a perfect spot for defending the surrounding fertile lands from new invasions from the Mediterranean. The original castle fortress is still a feature of the modern city, and its scope and dimensions give you a sense of how important Collesano was for the area's defenses. The town was also famous for its hairpin bends in the Targa Florio car race, which ran from 1906 to 1977. A museum here is dedicated to La Targa, the first ever sports car event.