Located in the Northwest region of Sicily awaits the picturesque town of Monreale, established within the provenance of Palermo and overlooking what is known as “La Concha d’ora” or “the golden shell” famous for producing bountiful treasure troves of ingredients in which the locals have prided themselves on for countless generations. However, it is no secret that Sicily has been conquered by many great empires over the decades and the proof can found while venturing the streets and immersing yourself in one of nine mazes of UNESCO World Heritage sites better known as the Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale.
Monreale is home to the historical Norman-Byzantine Cathedral, one of the greatest examples still preserved Norman architecture portraying scenes from both the Old and New Testament, first undergoing construction in 1174 under the supervision of Sicilian King William II, nicknamed William the good because of his policies of leniency and justice towards the towns and barons in contradiction to his father, and concluding in 1267.
According to legend, one day while William the good was out hunting along the countryside he fell asleep under a carob tree. While William was sleeping the Holy Virgin appeared to him in a dream, and she suggested to him that he should build a church here in place of the carob tree. After removing the tree, a treasure was found in tangled in the roots, golden coins that that would fund the construction of the church.
Aside from having one of the most beautiful cathedrals that was fortunate to withstand the perilous test of time – food culture remains flawlessly intact. The city’s bustling markets and out-of-this-world street vendors offer not only a taste, but a glance at an authentic taste of the Sicilian culture, featuring traditional mouth-watering tomato aromas, to the alluring taste of the Arancine as the warm Saffron rice-dough melts in your mouth, to the flat out ridiculous and bold entrail skewers there is a taste for everybody.
While in Sicily it is crucial to embrace the local mentality by treating yourself to some of local wines that have been perfected to stimulate and arouse the every taste bud – one varietal in particular, 100% trebbiano, a grape variety that we link to Abruzzo or Tuscany, but which was cultivated in Cerasa, near Monreale, as early as 1400. The trebbiano grape is responsible fore more than 1/3 of the white wine production around the world annually, stretching to the furthest corners of the world, and into the homes of millions. So the next time you’re enjoying a nice crisp glass of white wine just remember that grape was crafted to perfection just for you.
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