Authentic Sicily
Although the municipality of Calatafimi is known primarily for the Greek ruins of Segesta, the centre is well worth a visit. The name of the town derives from 'Qal FIMI' (Rock Euphemius). According to a legend, an officer in the service of Byzantium favoured the arrival of the Arabs in Sicily. The legacy of Arab domination is evident throughout the town centre, as the neighbourhoods are characterized by clear streets of Islamic matrix. Apart from its undeniable beauty, Calatafimi is also known, specifically in Pianto dei Romani, for what occurred on May 15, 1860, the 'Battaglia dei Mille'. The battle was fought between the followers of Garibaldi (the 'Cacciatori delle Alpi', known as 'I Mille') and a group of volunteers and 3,000 Sicilians from the Bourbon army led by General Francesco Landi.
