Borgo Parrini: the most colourful Sicilian village

Borgo Parrini has recently become one of the most Instagrammable places in Sicily and it is easy to see why.

Borgo Parrini is a small village situated between Palermo and Trapani, near the town of Partinico and like several other Sicilian villages, it had been abandoned to its fate as its inhabitants moved to the cities, looking for work.

It was only in the 90s that local artist Giuseppe Gaglio decided to revamp the dejected village and bring it to new life.

The village wants to showcase modern creativity together with traditional Sicilian aspects and in that regard, very helpful and insightful is the visit to the Dream Museum.
Starting inside the souvenir/curio shop in the main square, the semi-guided visit will bring you through two typical Sicilian houses (showcases only, they are not inhabited) with their exquisite Majolica tiles, their traditional kitchens and furniture with some added twists.

The visit also includes a storytelling, only in Italian though, of the famous Sicilian puppets, i pupi, and their events during the Charles Magne era.

If one follows the main street to the bottom, there is a bakery which sells freshly baked traditional bread, which us Sicilians call “pane di paese” (town bread) as it is more rustic than “city bread”.

How to get there:

You would need your own transport/car or you can try to arrange a tour.

If you are driving from Palermo, take the motorway E90/A29 and exit at Montelepre, follow the SP1 bis road and then the Via Parrini which will bring you to the car park. It should take less than one hour.

If you are coming from Trapani/Castellammare del Golfo direction, take the motorway A29 towards Palermo and exit at Montelepre, follow the SP 1 bis road and then the Via Parrini which brings you to the car park.

It should take around one hour.

Is it worth it?

If you are nearby, or have your own car, it is certainly worth it spending a couple of hours or so, sampling some local food and take home some precious memories.
You could combine it with a morning trip to the beach at Terrasini, if coming from Palermo or Alcamo Marina/Castellammare if coming from Trapani.