Of the Arab origins of Sambuca, founded by the Emir Al Zabut after landing in Sicily in 827, there remain vivid testimonies in the Vicoli Saraceni district that constitute its historical nucleus, where once stood the castle of the Emir Al Zabut, and in the ruins of the Mazzallakkar fortress on Lake Arancio. But the first human settlements in the territory of Sambuca di Sicilia date back to the Greek-Punic period (6th century BC), as shown by the archaeological excavations of Mount Adranone, the highest Punic settlement in the Mediterranean.
The town is a small treasure chest waiting to be discovered: the Chiesa della Matrice, the Museum of Sacred Art in the Chiesa del Purgatorio and the former Santa Caterina Monastery, which houses the Gianbecchina art gallery, are certainly worth a visit. In addition to the churches, there are some historic buildings dating back to the 15th century, such as Palazzo Panitteri, home to the Archaeological Museum and the Terre Sicane Wine Route and the delightful 19th-century municipal theatre “L'Idea”.