During medieval times the Sicilian aristocracy owned enormous masses of land in what is now the national park, building many churches and castles to symbolise their riches and greatness. Villages mushroomed around the castles where the nobility lived, housing the peasants that worked in and for the castle. This is one of the reasons why there are so many small villages in the area, after all every aristocratic family with respect for itself needed its own castle with adjourning village. Famous artists have visited and worked in the area, the most famous of which is Gagini the famous sculptor. There are many ash trees in the hills between Castelbuono and Pollina, and during the summer one can witness the collecting of manna.
Manna is the resin that seeps out of the bark when it is cut.
It was used for decades as a remedy for stomach problems, whereas it today is utilised in making sweets.