The Arab quarter of the seven alleys and the houses sold for one euro
Sambuca di Sicilia, in the hills of the province of Agrigento near Lake Arancio, was founded by the Arabs, as its old name Zabut recalls. Its heart is the Quartiere Arabo, a maze of seven narrow alleys, the "sette vicoli saraceni", with courtyards and steps that have kept their medieval layout. In 2016 it was voted "Borgo dei Borghi", Italy's favourite village.
Along the main street, Corso Umberto, stand noble palaces and baroque churches, such as the Chiesa del Carmine with a statue of the Madonna dell'Udienza by Antonello Gagini. The town became famous internationally in 2019 when it offered abandoned houses for one euro, attracting buyers from all over the world, who have helped bring the old centre back to life.
Tip: taste the minni di virgini, cream-filled pastries shaped like breasts, a local speciality; the archaeological site of Monte Adranone, a Greek and Punic fortress, is nearby.
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