Castelbuono.... sights and sounds

Castelbuono is a small mountain town of about 6,000 inhabitants, located in the Madonie mountains, but only 15 miles from the sea.  It is a vibrant town, with not many tourists, especially this time of year.  Dominating the town is the Ventimiglia Castle for which Castelbuono (good castle) is named.  It is of Arab-Norman design, and dates to the year 1316.  It is now owned by the town, which has turned most of it into a museum, housing modern art and religious artifacts...

The courtyard inside the castle...

 

 

 

                                      

View of Castelbuono from the castle...

An ancient measuring standard, and yes it is carved in stove...

Chris going to the dungeon...

She will need to learn the words...

On the top floor of the castle is the surprising and somewhat terrifying Chapel of St. Anne, in high-relief baroque style.  All kinds of tortured and demonic figures are portrayed, and it is said that the actual skull of St. Anne resides here. 

Castelbuono has many fountains, there is even a map to do a walking tour.  Here are a couple of them...

The town is known throughout Italy and the world for panettone made by the Fiasconaro company.  They have a tasting room in the main piazza...

Just walking around town we saw so many interesting things.  Here is a street so narrow you couldn't drive a car down, and there is a sign for "no trucks"...

The friendly shoemaker, who has a friend in Missouri, works in this tiny shop, his back against one wall and his narrow bench against the other...

The blacksmith was hard at work, his shop was open right along the main street.  He didn't want his picture taken, but here's his forge and anvil...

Then there's this guy, who was seen all over town...

Trying to "impress" someone...

Aren't you supposed to run to daylight... ?

And finally... the guy we called "garbage can man".  He drives around town with a station wagon full of plastic garbage cans, shouting his sales pitch over a loudspeaker...  We were standing in front of the blacksmith shop when he went by... no, you can't make this s__t up... !  Here is the link to garbage can man...

  www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0OQzeAmDOQ

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