Cerami is the only town in Enna immersed in the splendid landscape in the Nebrodi Natural Park. The origins of the village are ancient and, most likely, date back to the time of Greek domination. Archaeological finds discovered thanks to the excavations carried out in via Roma in 1971 place the origins of the village between the 4th and 5th centuries BC. We then have uncertain and fragmentary news of the history of Cerami until the 11th century when the Normans arrived, whose imprint can still be found today in the toponymy. From the lineage of Roger the Norman, the County of Cerami passed to the Lombard family of the Aleramici, then to the Ventimiglia and Rosso. It was then the turn of the Swabians, Angevins, Spaniards and Bourbons. Cerami retains a historic center full of monuments and religious buildings, but it is also the site of important archaeological remains and an important gateway to the natural beauty of the Nebrodi Park .
What is the best time to visit Cerami?
Cerami can be visited all year round: the welcome and warmth of the Sicilians will amaze you.
But for an unforgettable experience, admiring the colors, tasting the flavors and fully experiencing the traditions, it is advisable to plan a visit on the days of one of the festivals that take place in Cerami during the year.
If you want to know about upcoming festivals and events Click here and you will find a list of the most important ones.
What to see
The Norman Castle of Cerami dominates the town and the valleys below from the top of a limestone cliff. The village of Cerami had 24 religious buildings until the last century. Today only nine exist: the Mother Church, dedicated to Sant'Ambrogio; the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate with its Baroque facade, built in the 16th century, and the Gothic style portal; the seventeenth-century Church of the Madonna del Carmelo which houses the valuable Crucifix by Fra Umile da Petralia; the Church of San Sebastiano dating back to 1612 with its majolica spire bell tower; the Church of San Benedetto from the first half of the eighteenth century; the Church of San Giuseppe of the souls in purgatory; the Church of San Biagio; the small church of the Crucifix, known as the Lord of the Santetta, located outside the town centre; the sanctuary of the Madonna della Lavina, to which a miraculous event is linked; the ruins of the church of San Michele and the convent of the same name located at the foot of the castle rock. Of particular value is the valuable portal of the De Angelis house, in the central Via Umberto, unfortunately in a poor state of conservation. The Ponte Vecchio, also known as Cicerone's bridge, dates back to the Norman era and stands at one of the most important crossroads in medieval Sicily. In the territory of Cerami, along the Cerami river there are several mills which, according to tradition, date back all from the Arab period in Sicily: the Mulini della Roccella; the Big Mill; the Mulinello and the Sant'Ambrogio Mill (which today falls within the territory of Nicosia).
Typical food, local wines and drinks, traditional dish to taste in Cerami
You can obviously taste all the typical products of Sicilian cuisine, the most well-known ones, such as
cannoli,
Sicilian cassata, arancini, etc.
But there are some specialties typical of this area that are more difficult to find in other areas of Sicily.
A typical specialty of the village of Cerami is the cavatieddu atturratu, a typical wood-fired dessert enriched with the so-called "atturru", chopped almonds, sugar and cinnamon; The typical local product is pipi ciramisi, a variety of spicy peppers grown in the surrounding countryside.
Nearby Places
Below you will find a list of the most beautiful places to visit in the surroundings of Cerami. The places are located at a maximum distance of about an half hour by car. Good fun!