AGRIGENTO, SICILY Founded with the name of Akragas by the inhabitants of Gela in the 6th century BC., Agrigento quickly became an important centre in Magna Grecia, as can be seen from the massive remains still visible near the town. Destroyed by Carthage in 406 BC., it rose again and about two centuries later was under Roman rule. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was dominated by the Goths and then the Byzantines (6th century), under whose rule it sharply declined until, in 829, it was taken by the Arabs, who destroyed the town only to rebuild it on a higher site. The principal ancient monuments are the Doric temples in the Valle dei Templi, dating to the 6th and 5th centuries BC., dedicated to Hercules, Olympian Jupiter, Juno, Castor, Pollux and Demeter, as well as the temple called `the Concordia', still in an excellent state of preservation. The Tomb of Terone, the Oratory of Phalaris and other small temples are also of great interest. Other monuments include the church of S. Nicola (Romanesque-Gothic, 13th century), the Duomo (14th century, with later alterations), the church of S. Spirito.
Founded in 1570 by Blasco Barresi,
the master of the "Castle of Pietra d'Amico", and originally
called Alessandria della Pietra, is situated on a plateau with
a wonderful panorama. In 1862 it took its present name from the
XVIIth century Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rock, built in the
place where, according to the legend, a statue of the Virgin
was found.
Founded in 1606 by Baldassare
III Naselli, Count of Comiso, who named it Aragona, in honour
of his mother Beatrice Aragona Branciforti. In 1615 the Naselli
family obtained the title of Princes of Aragona, and they owned
the town until 1812. Recently, remains of an ancient Late-Byzantine
Roman Villa have been found in the district of San Vincenzo and
other remains of a Roman Villa in the district of Fontanazza.
Of interest is the Baronial Palace (17th cent.), the Mother Church,
The Chiesa del Carmine (18th century) and the Chiesa del Purgatorio
(18th century). In the outskirts of Aragona occurs a singular
volcanic phenomenon: "the Macalube". A wide mud flat
where there is volcanic activity of the water clay in a myriad
of tiny clay cones. A muddy mixture of methane and brackish water
is discharged, giving the landscape an almost lunar appearance.
It's origin are rather uncertain,
but it was probably founded by the Arabs, who built an imposing
castle at the top of the town. The high part of the town, around
the castle, is typically medieval. Of interest is the Castle,
S. Joseph's Church (17th-18th c.), S, Vito's Church (16th c.),
The Mother Church. Burgio is famous for its pottery and as having
the only bell foundry in Sicily.
Naturally protected on a 950
mt. high crest, Caltabellota is probably the ancient Sicanian
city of Triokala. The Arab "Qal'at-al-ballut" ("Rock
of Oaks"), was conquered in 1090 by Count Ruggero and, here,
in 1302 Federico II of Aragon signed the peace treaty with Carlo
Valois which settled the war of Vespers and conceded the Sicilian
Kingdom to the Aragonese. Of interest is the Mother Church, S.Francesco's
church 12th c., the church of S. Maria della Pietà, the
Church del Carmine 16th c., The Church of S. Agostino, the S.
Pellegrino hermitage, a large building complex clinging to the
Gollega rocks just out of the town.
Several archaeological remains
discovered on the slopes of Mount Cammarata, inside a number
of grottoes, confirm the presence of man in extremely remote
times; Sicani, Greeks, Romans and Arabs. Its history is bound
to the castle, impregnable with its seven towers, given by Count
Ruggero D'Altavilla to Lucia da Cammarata, who owned it until
1154. Today, only few ruins of the castle are visible.
It probably began as the Arab
hamlet of Chiudia. The present town was founded in 1629 by G.
Vincenzo Maria Termini. Casteltermini is known thanks to one
of the most interesting popular event in Sicily "The Sagra
del Tataratà".
The Archipelagos of the Pelagie
consists of the islands of Lampedusa, Linosa and Lampione. The
name Pelagie comes from the Greek word pelàghia, meaning
island of the high sea. The archipelago is the southernmost extension
of Italy, situated south of Pantelleria and west of Malta, nearer
to the North African coast than to Sicily.
Naro probably derives its name
from the Greek word Naron, meaning "river", in relation
to the stream which runs nearby. In the 12th c. the Normans built
the first nucleus on the top of the hill. Of interest is the
Chiaramonte Castle, built in 1330, the Mother Church (1300),
the baroque Church of the SS. Salvatore 16th c. and the Santuario
di S. Calogero.
Feudal property of the Chiaramonte
family, who built the castle in 1353, in the 15th century, it
passed into the De Caro estate and in the 16th into the Tomasi.
Of interest is the Ducal Mansion (1653-1659), the Mother Church
(1666) and the SS. Rosario Church.
Racalmuto was given its name
by the Arabs. "Rahal Maut" rose over the ruins of another
ancient city, perhaps of Sicilian origin or as a colony of Agrigentina.
The Arabs settled here and probably the small village was defended
from a Castle. In 1038, the Castle was stormed from the Byzantines
and, in 1087, from the Normans, that razed to the ground the
village. The French Count Roberto Malcovenant, of the Normans
in Sicily, was named Baron of Racalmuto. Subsequently, the land
of Racalmuto was granted to the Barrese family that erected in
the 1229, the important fortress of the "Castelluccio ".
Of interest is the Mother Church (17th c.) and the Sanctuary
of S. Maria del Monte. The Sicilian writer Leonardo Sciascia,
was born in Racalmuto in 1921.
Sambuca di Sicilia is situated
in the western part of the province of Agrigento. It was founded
by the Emir al Zabut, immediately after the Arab landing in 827.
The "Vicoli Saraceni" demonstrates there origins that
have just recently been restored and a fortress, "Mazzallakkar"
on Lake Arancio. The ancient Zabut has developed both culturally
and urbanistically. Of interest is Palazzo Beccatelli (18th c.),
the Church of the Carmine built in 1530, the Church of the Rosario
and the Saracen streets called "Vaneddi", a network
of cobbled alleys and courtyards, which are perfect example of
Islamic town planning.
San Biagio Platani was founded
in 1648. Very interesting are the festivities during holy week;
on good Friday there is the procession of Christ to the Calvario,
and on the eve preceding the resurrection, the two confraternities
of the "Madunnara" and the "Signurara", put
up the Ester arches decorated with bread, palm leaves, flowers,
dates and rosemary. Of interest is the Baronial Mansion, the
19th c. Mother Church, and the Church of Carmelo.
Sant'Angelo Muxaro has been identified
as the mythical Sikan town of Kamikos, built for king Kocalos
according to the legend by Daedalus. A vast cemetery of rock
cut tombs is on the western and southern flunk of the hill, the
oldest of which date to the 9th c. B.C.. Very interesting is
the monumental "Tomba del Principe". The tholos shape
of these tombs are reminiscent of burials in the Mycenaean civilization.
The town is situated on the Sicani
Mountains (739 m. a.s.l.), immersed in the Quisquina wood. The
first inhabited village dates back to the 13th c. B.C.. Of interest
is the S. Rosalia's hermitage (1760), situated on the north side
of the Serra Quisquina, where the Saint lived in pray and chastity
before reaching mount Pellegrino in Palermo.
From very early on Sciacca was
highly considered for the beneficial hot waters, which spring
from the slopes of Mt. Kronos, today known as Monte San Calogero.
In the 7th c. b.C. in fact the Selinuntines called the first
nucleus Thermae Selinuntinae, while later the Romans called it
Aquae Labodes. The tows was taken by the Arabs in 840 and by
the Norman Count Ruggero in 1087. Of interest is the Palazzo
San Giacomo Tagliavia (15th c.), the Palazzo Arone Tagliavia
(XV c.), the Cathedral, the Pardo tower, Palazzo Perollo, S.
Margherita Church and Carmine Church (13th c.).
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