Gangi - Sicily - Borgo d'Italia

Gangi, Palermo district, is a little town located on Monte Marone, at the eastern limit of Madonie range. Founded in 1200 BC by the Cretans and named Engyon, in middle age, after a complete destruction during the “Guerra dei Vespri”, the settlement was rebuild in the actual site and renamed Engio and, then, Gangi.
Opened as a sort of amphitheatre on the valley below, the town offers some spectacular panoramas over Sicily inland. Its historical heritage is attested by several buildings and monuments scattered among the medieval alleys of the old centre. The castle, the Ventimiglia tower, the Church of St. Paul are only some of the architectural attraction of Gangi, represented by many other noble palaces and churches. Walking along the main Umberto I avenue is a magical trip in the past, feeling the breath of history. Unforgettable landscapes appear suddenly when the alleys open in a square or a smaller courtyard. From Piazza del Popolo, particularly, the belvedere on the carpet of stone house roofs and the surrounding country is wonderful.
For its great artistic value and its liveability, Gangi got the award of “Borgo dei Borghi d’Italia” in 2014, a special prize conceived to valorize the most beautiful Italian villages.

As always in Sicily, Gangi is not only a beautiful town to visit but it is also a treasure chest of traditions to experience, starting from gastronomy with Caciocavallo cheese, dried sousage, mashed green bean pasta, etc. and continuing with the Away of Smells (a particular itinerary through officinal plants) and local crafts.
Among these, is the extraordinary production of musical drums by Fabrizio Fazio, a passionate craftsman, faithful to traditional techniques. His shop, located in Corso Vitale in old Gangi, deserves a visit itself. Mr. Fazio will be happy to explain to visitors the art and secrets of drum manufacture. If you have luck, sometimes you could listen him playing one of his drum. He is a great musician and you will be surprised by the incredible variety of sounds he is able to produce with his instrument.

This short video was filmed in 2019 during an afternoon visit to Gangi, using my Olympus Om-D EM5 MKII mirrorless camera and a GoPro Hero7. Photos are by Francesca Sparatore and her Nikon D3100. Maps are by Relive app coupled with a Suunto Traverse. I-Movie for editing.
A special tank is to Mr. Fabrizio Fazio for his performance. If you need to contact him, you can use the following link to his website:
http://www.artigianodeltamburo.net/
The other track in this video is “Voyeur“ by Jungle Punks and is available in YouTube Audio Library.


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