Travel Guide Bagheria

Bagheria is located 14 km east of Palermo (AST bus, 1h15), in the eastern part of the Conca d'Oro. Since the 17th century, it has been the town par excellence for the Palermo princes, where they built villas, each one more sumptuous than the next. The first to choose this place was Prince Giuseppe Branciforte who, in 1658, built the Villa Butera (on Corso Butera). Then, in the 17th and 18th centuries, the inhabited centre developed around this villa. At that time, the baroque style was in full swing, and it left its mark on the villas of Bagheria. Today, the town and its palaces deserve to be better promoted and renovated. Amongst the most exquisite residences are the Palagonia (wonderfully reconstructed in the film Baaria - Bagheria - by Giuseppe Tornatore), Villarosa (late 18th century, beautiful Corinthian portico), Roccaforte, San Marco, Cuto, Rammacca, Moncada di Larderia, San Cataldo. The most sumptuous and ostentatious building in Bagheria is the Villa Valguarnera. Built in 1721, its facades are decorated with beautiful sculptures by Marabitti. It was occupied for a long time by the Provenzano clan of the powerful Cosa Nostra from Corleone. The Valguarnera family finally got it back after 187 trials! All of them are jealously guarded private properties, we will be satisfied to admire the facades