Sambuca reflects the artistic influence of the peoples who have inhabited it, the noble families who have adorned it, and those who, even today, continue to enhance its value.
Against the ancient Saracen backdrop, the past meets the contemporary, creating precious vistas that enrich the territory.
Discovering the village through art means being transported to a distant past. Through the exploration of Monte Adranone, an ancient Selinuntine colony, and the 17th-century Palazzo Panitteri, where most of the archaeological finds that tell the story of the ancient city of Adranon are housed today, one can admire a rich archaeological heritage consisting of utensils, bronze belts, strigils, Attic ceramic vases, columns, and Doric and Ionic capitals, among many other artifacts from the Tomb of the Queen. On the facade of Palazzo Panitteri, one can admire a majestic iron sculpture of a "babbalucia" (snail) by local artist Enzo De Luca, a blacksmith who has turned his craft into art.
From the Greeks to the Arabs, Sambuca preserves and enhances the remains of ancient Zabut. A clear example of the fusion of ancient and modern are the Saracen Alleys, known as "Li Setti Vaneddi," narrow cobbled streets typical of the Saracens, which branch off from the remains of the old Zabut castle. Today, these characteristic alleys are brought to life through the colors and creativity of Sambuca and nearby artists, who have adorned courtyards, walls, doors, and staircases with their art and vibrant hues.
The journey through art continues along C.so Umberto I, cradle of a significant artistic heritage spanning centuries and revealing various stylistic elements, leading the observer from the marvelous Baroque stuccoes of the Serpotta school in the Church of Santa Caterina to those attributed to the followers of Messina in the Church of the Purgatory, a treasure chest of art and beauty, and home to the MuDìA (Museum of Sacred Art), which in 2017 hosted the "Portrait of Paul III Farnese," a masterpiece by Titian displayed in the museum's central hall, where the works of the Capuchin painter Fra Felice da Sambuca are also exhibited.
From Baroque art to the Liberty style of Placido Carini, whose frescoes adorn the 19th-century Municipal Theatre "L’Idea", passing through the realistic style of Sambuca painter Gianbecchina.
Even the younger generations delve into the wonderful world of art. Sambuca boasts a wide array of local and non-local artists who have left and continue to leave their mark on the village. From the works of the very young Lorenzo Maniscalco, a second-generation artist and author of numerous murals and ceramic panels scattered throughout the village, to the colorful hand-painted ceramics of Franco Safina and Antonio Governale. Contributing to Sambuca's vast artistic heritage is also the French artist Sylvie Clavel, with her works entirely created through the weaving of natural textile fibers.
Lastly, enriching the village are also international artists with their works; this is the case of the couple Marta Romani and Karl Logge and the Argentine artist Julian Andrés Provenzano, who arrived in Sambuca thanks to a unique experience promoted by the cultural enterprise Korai - Territory, Development and Culture - Scarl i.s ETS in collaboration with the Municipality of Sambuca di Sicilia as part of the cultural actions of the project “Sambuca Welcoming. A S.M.A.R.T. Community Village between tradition and innovation” supported by MIBACT.