Sicily · Enna
Sperlinga
A sandstone borgo at 750 meters in the Nebrodi foothills where a Norman castle and dwellings are carved into the rock as one continuous mass.
Known for
ROCK VILLAGE
About fifty cave dwellings cut directly into a single sandstone monolith, the most extensive troglodyte settlement in inland Sicily.
THE NORMAN CASTLE
Castle hewn from the same rock as the village, partly cave and partly built, the strategic point of the Nebrodi-Madonie crossing.
VESPERS REFUSAL
Alone in Sicily, Sperlinga refused to join the 1282 uprising against the Angevin French and gave shelter to their garrison.
PAGNOTTA DEL DITTAINO
The commune lies inside the Pagnotta del Dittaino DOP production zone.
When to visit
Best · Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
- J9°
- F11°
- M12°
- A16°
- M21°
- J27°
- J31°
- A30°
- S25°
- O21°
- N15°
- D11°
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
Daytime averages, 2020–2024. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
The festa: Giovanni Battista, 24 June
Why come
Sperlinga sits at 750 meters on the southern slopes of the Nebrodi, in the inland Enna province with about 670 residents. The name comes from the Latin spelunca, meaning cave. The village is carved directly into a sandstone monolith, with around fifty rupestrian dwellings connected by streets and steps also cut from the rock.
The Norman castle, built between the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries on the highest point of the same monolith, includes stables, prisons and forges all hewn into the stone. Sperlinga is famous for one historical refusal. During the Sicilian Vespers of 1282, when the whole island rose against the Angevin French, Sperlinga alone gave shelter to a French garrison and held out against the rebels.
An inscription over a castle doorway once read quod Siculis placuit sola Sperlinga negavit, what pleased the Sicilians, only Sperlinga denied. The village is listed among the Borghi più belli d'Italia.
The Sunday letter
We haven’t written Sperlinga’s letter yet.
One town every Sunday, with the photo, the food, the festa. Be there when this one comes up. Free, by Peter & Sophia from Pietrasanta.
How to get there
From Catania (CTA), about 2 hours by car.
By car from the centre of Palermo 2h 15m.
What to see
Castello di Sperlinga
Norman-era castle carved into the sandstone monolith above the village, with stables, forges and prisons cut directly into the rock.
Grotte rupestri
Around fifty cave dwellings hewn from the sandstone mass, inhabited until the last century and connected by rock-cut streets and steps.
Borgo rupestre
Rock village around and beneath the castle, the largest surviving troglodyte settlement in inland Sicily.
Chiesa Madre di Sant'Anna
Eighteenth-century parish church at the foot of the castle rock, the religious center of the village and the venue for the Sant'Anna feast in July.
The slow-trip planner
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Living here
- Population 674
- Very remotei
- Pharmacy in town
- High school within a 30-minute drive
- Nearest airport Catania, 1 h 54 min drive
- Regional capital Palermo, 2 h 15 min drive
Common questions
- What is Sperlinga known for?
- Sperlinga is a sandstone borgo at 750 meters in the Nebrodi foothills where a Norman castle and dwellings are carved into the rock as one continuous mass.
- Where is Sperlinga?
- Sperlinga is a comune in the province of Enna, in Sicily.
- What is the nearest airport to Sperlinga?
- Catania (CTA), about 2 hours by car.
- How long is the drive from Palermo to Sperlinga?
- About 2h 15m by car.
- When is the best time to visit Sperlinga?
- Best in Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. July is the warmest month, averaging 31 degrees, and January the wettest, with about 11 rain days.
- Is there a sagra or a festival in Sperlinga?
- The town keeps its patron saint's day: Giovanni Battista, 24 June.
- Which other towns are like Sperlinga?
- Santa Cristina Gela, Castel di Lucio and Novara di Sicilia.
- How many people live in Sperlinga?
- 674 at the 2023 count.
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 750 m
- Population: 674
- Surface area: 59.14 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories: ISTAT, OpenStreetMap and Wikidata, and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
Similar
Towns like Sperlinga
Santa Cristina Gela
Province: Palermo
both inland in Sicily · both high up, between 600 and 1,000 metres
Castel di Lucio
Province: Messina
both inland in Sicily · both high up, between 600 and 1,000 metres
Novara di Sicilia
Province: Messina
both inland in Sicily · both high up, between 600 and 1,000 metres
Sutera
Province: Caltanissetta
both inland in Sicily · both high up, between 600 and 1,000 metres
Bondone
Province: Trento
both under 1,000 people · both high up, between 600 and 1,000 metres
Sadali
Province: Sud Sardegna
both under 1,000 people · both high up, between 600 and 1,000 metres
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