Ciminna was chosen by director Luchino Visconti for some scenes of the film “The Leopard” because it resembled Donnafugata described in the novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. Filming began in June 1962. The Ciminnesi opened the doors of the warehouses of their homes that were transformed into shops of plasterers, painters, bricklayers, blacksmiths, electricians, carpenters, tailors and grocers. On this occasion the town had the pleasure of hosting Burt Lancaster (in the role of Don Fabrizio Prince of Salina), Alain Delon (in the role of Tancredi, Garibaldian and Don Fabrizio’s nephew in love with the beautiful Angelica), Claudia Cardinale (the beautiful Angelica and daughter of the Mayor of Donnafugata), Paolo Stoppa (in the role of Calogero Sedara Mayor of Donnafugata), Ottavia Piccolo (in the role of Caterina), Mario Girotti, aka Terence Hill (in the role of Count Cavriaghi), Rina Morelli (in the role of Princess Maria Stella Salina, Don Fabrizio’s wife) Serge Reggiani (in the role of Don Ciccio Tumeo), Giuliano Gemma (in the role of the Garibaldi General), the Palermo actor Pino Caruso and many others. To commemorate the event, a permanent photographic exhibition curated by Giuseppe Cusmano of the BC Sicilia Association and called “The Leopard set in 300 images” has been set up in the halls of Palazzo Don Filippo Meli. The exhibition is a great opportunity to discover our country and the richness of its historical and artistic monuments, its mild climate and its landscapes, the friendliness of its inhabitants, in short, everything that attracted Luchino Visconti.
