This fascinating village rich in history, art and archaeological finds overlooks the Lake Salto. The historic centre, well preserved, with winding alleys, beautiful houses, fourteenth and fifteenth century portals and windows, was built in the eleventh century on a spur defensible from invasions, as part of the fortification system, widespread in the area. Filippa, from the Mareri family, feudal lords of Petrella, met Saint Francis and became Saint Philippa. She founded the first monastery of the Poor Clarisse in the Regno di Napoli, transforming the Castle and the Church of San Pietro which had been property of the family. Her devotion to the Saint, to whom many miracles are attributed, grew over time.
Don’t miss the village and its elegant medieval and Renaissance buildings, with sculpted portals, windows, frames and architraves, the Rocca della Petrella, the Church of Santa Maria, with pieces of frescoes and friezes of great interest, recently restored, the Museum of Santa Filippa Mareri in Borgo San Pietro, with the remains of the ancient monastery submerged by the waters of the artificial lake, and the library, full of parchments and papal bulls from the twelfth century.
In 1598 one of the most famous crimes of the 16th century took place in the Rocca di Petrella, the assassination of Francesco Cenci, organized by his daughter Beatrice.
Petrella is inextricably linked to him, often fictionalised, as his opposite figure, Saint Philippa.
On the banks of Lake Salto you can taste truffles and porcini mushrooms; the local meats are also excellent as lake fish with spit-roasted eel or truffled trout. Among the many PAT products, we find the red chestnut of Cicolano, pears in syrup with must, chestnut gnocchi, potato ravioli or ravioli with chestnut cream, cicerchia and tersitti de’girgenti, which curiously take their name from a site founded by the inhabitants from Agrigento.