The best place in Italy: where to go for history lovers

Ganja is a small but incredibly charming town in Sicily, which in 2014 was recognized as "the most beautiful small town in Italy". This historic place is known for its stunning views, but behind the attractive facade lies a dark history of the mafia.

The history of Ganja dates back to ancient times. According to legend, it was founded by the Cretans around 1200 BC. Here you can see many historical sights, such as medieval and baroque churches, a castle on the top of a hill, and even underground passages. Experts told why Ganja is worth visiting.

Unfortunately, Ganja has not benefited from tourism as much as other coastal towns and villages in the country: the population has declined mainly due to the outflow of young and ambitious people moving to metropolitan areas such as the nearby center of Palermo.

It was this trend that prompted the then-mayor Giuseppe Ferrarello to introduce the One Euro Houses program, offering buyers the opportunity to renovate dilapidated properties at their own expense.

Ganja is a great option for a Christmas trip. Every year, this area attracts visitors due to the large-scale live nativity scene that is organized in the center. The theatrical performance, which involves several hundred actors, takes the audience on a journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem and tells the story of the biblical events.

However, Ganja has not always been a quiet idyll of winding streets and grand facades. In fact, the town was once a notorious mafia hotspot and went down in history as the "site of the Ganja siege" in 1926. At that time, the fascist prefect and former policeman Cesare Mori occupied the town. Many mafia members fled Sicily to the United States and Argentina, which led to the growth of organized crime in these regions.

Ganja is located on a hill, so it offers incredible panoramas. From here you can see endless olive groves, vineyards, and mountains. Ganja offers stunning views of Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. The ancient castle on the top of the hill is one of the main attractions of the region.

Ganja is famous for its architecture. Narrow cobblestone streets, and old houses with flowering balconies create a unique charm. The village has many beautiful churches, each with its own unique history. Tourists are advised to visit the Church of the Mother of God and the Church of St. Nicholas.

The underground passages of Ganja are a real adventure. Here you can see the tomb of Chiesa Madre Gandhi, where the mummies of priests are lined up along the walls of the crypt.

As you might expect from an Italian town, there is also a wide selection of traditional dishes, with classic pizza, pasta, calzones, arancini, and mastacutte.

The traditional Sicilian way of life has been preserved in Ganja. Here you can taste the local cuisine, meet the hospitable locals, and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of real Italy.

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