Siculiana

Siculiana is a town and comune in the province of Agrigento, Sicily, southern Italy, 13 kilometres (8 mi) west of the provincial capital Agrigento.

Siculiana
Comune
Comune di Siculiana
Coat of arms
Siculiana Location of Siculiana in Italy Show map of Italy Siculiana Siculiana (Sicily) Show map of Sicily
Coordinates: 37°20′N 13°25′E
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province	Agrigento (AG)
Frazioni	Siculiana Marina
Government
• Mayor	Giuseppe Zambito
Area [1]
• Total	40 km2 (15 sq mi)
Elevation	120 m (390 ft)
Population  (2017)[2]
• Total	4,471
• Density	110/km2 (290/sq mi)
Demonym	Siculianesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	92010
Dialing code	0922
Patron saint	SS. Crucifix
Saint day	May 3
Website	Official website

History

According to some historians, the name derives from the distortion of the Arabic Suq al Jani ("John's market"), while others believe its origin stems from Suqu 'l Yuni or Supu 'l Yunani ("Market of the Greeks").^[3]

The medieval hamlet of Siculiana was founded in 1310 by Frederick II Chiaramonte. Frederick constructed a castle, parts of which still exist today, on the ruins of the Arab fortress known as "Kalat Sugul", which had been destroyed in 1087 during the conquest of Sicily by Roger I.^[3][4]

Geography

Siculiana’s 13-kilometre (8 mi) long coast line is largely unspoiled; a protected Regional Nature Reserve has been established in the locality of Torre Salsa for its natural beauty and environmental interest.^[3]

Siculiana Marina is a suburban seaside village of Siculiana on the Strait of Sicily. Once an important settlement for maritime trade in the Mediterranean, with a prominent commercial Marketplace emporium, it is now a popular summer resort. The Caricatore (Loading Dock) was still active up to the end of 19th century.^[3]

Monuments and traditions

The ruins of the once-embattled Castello Chiaramonte is a prominent feature of the landscape.^[5] Within the city, the Baroque church Santuario del Santissimo Crocifisso is a well-known landmark.^[6] Inside is revered the Black Crucifix,^[7] which was moved to the church in 1611 from the castle in which it was previously kept.^[8] Every 3rd of May, the statue is carried in procession with typical abrupt movements and dips of the float, which popular belief attributes to the will of the saint.^[7]

People

• Francesco Agnello, Baron of Siculiana, musicologist, president of the Association "Amici della musica" - Palermo
• Frank Sivero, an American character actor^[9]
• Giuseppe Basile, Surgeon - Doctor of Garibaldi
• Blasco Isfar e Corillas, Baron of Siculiana
• Alfred Polizzi, mafia boss of the Cleveland crime family
• Nicola Gentile, Sicilian mafioso in New York City