Mistretta

Mistretta stands among the wooded mountains of northern Sicily, beneath the remains of a castle that overlooks the town. Its streets grew on the slopes below the fortress, enclosed by defensive walls and gates, including the gate known as Porta Palermo. The settlement prospered through agriculture and trade, and its churches bear the work of local stonecutters as well as members of the Gagini family.

Mistretta joined the Sicilian Vespers against Angevin rule in 1282 and later became a royal town under the Aragonese. In 1447 Alfonso confirmed its royal status and allowed artisans a role in its government. The sixteenth century brought new religious and civic buildings, including a hospital and a house for pilgrims, while the town's craftsmen enriched its principal church.