Italy is a country full of some of the most unique villages in the world. You can find places that are known for their rich history, those that are known for their particular beauty, and then there's the village of Centuripe (pronounced CEN-TU-REE-PAY). If you're fortunate enough to fly over the city, you'll see that it's shaped like a man. Built on a hill, about 2,400 feet above sea level, the layout of the town is said to date back to the 16th century. It’s known for its picturesque alleyways, designed for animal transport. The village is divided into intersecting sections, with narrow streets and winding steps that descend into a valley separating multi-storied terraced houses. From the top of the town, the famous volcano Mount Etna is visible in the distance, as are sprawling views of the countryside. Due to its high position, Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi called Centuripe “the balcony of Sicily.” Today, approximately 5,000 people call Centuripe home. The town has avoided mass tourism, but visitors can still find several notable highlights, including the parts of the original defensive walls that still surround the town, several churches, an interesting archaeological museum, and the remains of the Roman Temple of the Augustales.
