Castelbuono
A Madonie town gathered around the castle of the Ventimiglia family, among chestnut and ash woods, half an hour from Cefalù.
The story
In the countryside around Castelbuono and Pollina a very rare product survives: manna, the sweet sap that oozes from cuts in the bark of ash trees and hardens in the sun into white stalactites, once used as medicine and now in pastry-making. The town is also known for having collected recycling in the old centre with donkeys for years, and for an independent music festival known all over Europe, Ypsigrock.
Why go
A lively mountain town, with the castle chapel decorated in stucco by the Serpotta workshop and manna sweets, close to the sea at Cefalù.
In the itineraries
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Weather forecast
The forecast for the next 7 days at this spot: sky, temperatures, rain and wind.
Forecast by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), from the models of national weather services. Your browser downloads it directly from Open-Meteo, and only when you ask. In the mountains and at sea the weather changes quickly: check the official forecast as well before you set off.
Getting there
- By train. The nearest station is Pollina-San Mauro Castelverde station, 12.5 km away. Alternatively: Cefalù station, 12.9 km away. From the station you need a bus, a taxi or a car.
- By air. The nearest airport is Palermo Falcone e Borsellino Airport (PMO), about 91 km away.
- Parking. There are many signposted car parks within a kilometre; the nearest is 100 m away, free.
- ZTL. Many Italian historic centres are limited traffic zones (ZTL) monitored by cameras: if you arrive by car, leave it outside the centre and check opening times and permits on the town council's website (your hotel may be able to register your plate).
Stations, ports, airports and car parks from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); distances as the crow flies. Timetables and connections change: check them before you travel.
Climate month by month
The most pleasant months for weather are from April to June and from September to November, with average highs between 18 and 29 °C. From July to August it is hot: average highs exceed 30 °C. The wettest month is November (about 99 mm), the driest July.
| Month | Temperature | High / low | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | from 7 to 12 °C | 12° 7° | 56 |
| Feb | from 7 to 13 °C | 13° 7° | 51 |
| Mar | from 8 to 15 °C | 15° 8° | 54 |
| Apr | from 10 to 18 °C | 18° 10° | 24 |
| May | from 14 to 22 °C | 22° 14° | 30 |
| Jun | from 19 to 28 °C | 28° 19° | 16 |
| Jul | from 22 to 31 °C | 31° 22° | 9 |
| Aug | from 22 to 31 °C | 31° 22° | 24 |
| Sep | from 20 to 27 °C | 27° 20° | 50 |
| Oct | from 16 to 23 °C | 23° 16° | 79 |
| Nov | from 12 to 18 °C | 18° 12° | 99 |
| Dec | from 9 to 14 °C | 14° 9° | 48 |
Averages for 2015–2024, estimated for an altitude of 402 m. Air: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), corrected for the altitude of the place; rain: average monthly total. These are indicative values: the weather on any given day can be very different, so always check the forecast before you go.