The patron saint of Chiusa Sclafani is Saint Nicholas of Bari, celebrated on 6 December in the mother church dedicated to him, which holds several works of art.
The town was founded in the early 14th century by Count Matteo Sclafani, who expanded the pre-existing medieval hamlet called «Chiusa la vecchia», located about two kilometres from the current town centre: the count's surname was added to the place name only in 1863. Over the centuries lordship of the town passed from the Sclafani to the Peralta, the Cordona, the Gioeni and the Colonna families. The territory also preserves the monastery of San Leonardo, from the 15th century, part of the Olivetan convent on the hill overlooking the town: its three large wings face a Renaissance triangular courtyard, now home to the Hortus Cerasi, the cherry garden.
