Founded in 1637 by Carlo Tomasi and De Caro, ancestor of the famous writer Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, Palma di Montechiaro is a major center covering a wide terrace with a view to the coast. In 1863, “Monthechiaro” was added to the original name of Palma (the tree featured in the De Caro's emblem) because of the proximity of the town to the Castle of Chiaramonte. In the rich monumental heritage of the town you might recognize places and areas that inspired some of the pages of the novel "Il Gattopardo" (The Leopard), the famous novel after which a Literary Park was dedicated.