Once identified with the ancient Greek town of Engyum, the town of Gangi that survives today shows more of its 14th Century roots.

Picturesque narrow streets and stone houses litter this hill top town.

Four kilometers outside of town is an old monastery turned restaurant and guesthouse, Gangi Vecchio. Founded in the 13th. Century as a Benedictine monastery, it was converted to a summer residence by the Barons of Bongiorno in the 18th. Century.

Today the monastery is a restaurant, which we visited and enjoyed a hearty meal of involtinas, potatoes, and fried puffed custard pastries.

Check out the cookbook that was sent us, its what gave us the idea to go there in the first place. And yes, the people in the cookbook still operate Gangi Vecchio.

Gangi, occupying its hill top (April 1999)

We received this cook book as a gift, because when your living in Sicily, you can never have too many Sicilian cookbooks. And as you know that GIAK means food, we had to give the restaurant a try. Click on book if you want to order it.

Entrance to the monastery cum restaurant (April 1999)

Inside the monastery cum restaurant. (April 1999)

This fountain at the old monastery had the cleanest water we have ever seen. (April 1999)

Copyright 2001GIAK Inc.