The best MTB trails around Caccamo

Chiesa SS. Annunziata (Church of the Most Holy Annunciation) is a historic Catholic parish church located in Piazza SS. Annunziata, Caccamo (PA), Sicily, Italy. It is one of the major religious monuments in the historic centre of Caccamo and serves as an active parish within the Archdiocese of Palermo. The church’s origins are medieval, likely dating back to between the late 14th and early 15th centuries. It underwent significant expansion in 1643, giving it its current layout with a Latin cross plan and three naves. An octagonal dome was added in 1762, becoming one of the church’s defining architectural features. Throughout history, the church has evolved stylistically, blending medieval foundations with Baroque elements visible in the façade and interior decoration.

The Cathedral of San Giorgio Martire,called Cathedral of Caccamo, stands in Piazza Duomo. According to legend , the city's first cathedral was the Church of Sant'Anna e Santa Venera, a now-ruined building on the edge of the old quarter of 'Terravecchia', at the foot of the castle. A first mother church was built around 1094 , probably a small court chapel, as evidenced by a plaque in the temple attributed to the Normans. In the years 1477 - 1480, the building was enlarged and enriched with numerous works of art, an expression of the Sicilian Renaissance, thanks to the generosity and rule of the Enriquez - Prades - Cabrera families. In 1606, the judges and representatives of the powerful city families, represented by the Henriquez and Amato families and Canon Paolo Muscia, decided to build a larger mother church ex novo, taking into account the increased needs of the population, giving them the task of completing the project entrusted to the architect Vincenzo La Barbera from Palermo. In 1614, the prayer house was rebuilt with gifts from patrons of the city, the new construction given dictates typical of the flourishing Sicilian baroque. The temple thus renovated brings together the already existing artistic treasures with new commissions and works from other abandoned or dilapidated places of worship. The pyramid-shaped spire of the bell tower was finished with 4200 majolica tiles with the image of Saint George on the four sides. In 1790, lightning destroyed the bell tower, the repair was entrusted to Nicolò Pruiti who made the model in a conical shape. On that occasion, the bell chamber was also rebuilt with cut stone. The floor of the church, paved with grey, black and pink Carrara marble, was renewed and replaced the existing floor in majolica tiles. The dome is cube-shaped and is supported by four pillars.

https://www.comune.caccamo.pa.it/qr/Terrazzo_Bellavista.htm https://www.comune.caccamo.pa.it/qr/IngressoCastello.htm

Caccamo Castle is one of the largest and best kept in Europe

Nice route, I didn't follow the itinerary suggested by the App to the letter, opting for a variant that passes through the Acqua Grande trough. I do not recommend the variant along the lake suggested by the App; steep climb and road interrupted by two barbed wire barriers which create some problems especially for those who are alone. For the rest, the dirt road that runs along the lake is well maintained and enjoyable. Tour to recommend.

Path that is found descending from the road that connects Trabia and Ventimiglia and which leads to Lake Caccamo

The largest artificial lake on the island.

The tower was a fortified element located downstream of the Castle of Caccamo, whose construction is dated around 1089 AD. Located in the immediate vicinity of the castle, on a modest elevation along a country road halfway up the coast that led to the town, it certainly constituted the last bulwark of defense outside the town walls. It can be reached both on foot and by MTB.