Sciacca

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Comune di Sciacca
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province	Agrigento (AG)
Mayor	Mario Turturici (since June 28, 2004)

Elevation	60 m
Area	190 km²
Population
- Total (as of March 12, 2007)	45,854
- Density	212/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	37°31′N 13°05′E
Gentilic	Saccensi
Dialing code	0925
Postal code	92019

Patron	Maria SS. del Soccorso
- Day	February 2
Website: www.comune.sciacca.ag.it

Sciacca is a town in the province of Agrigento on the southern coast of Sicily. It has noteworthy views of the Mediterranean Sea. The luxury Verdura Golf & Spa Resort is located in the nearby village of Verdura.

A view of Sciacca.

1 History
2 Main sights
3 Culture
4 Trivia
5 External links

[edit] History

Sciacca was founded in the 5th century BCE by the Greeks as a thermal spa for Selinunte, whose citizens came there to bathe in the sulphurous springs of Mt. Cronio, which rises up behind the town. Sciacca itself owes its origins to the Saracens, who settled there in the 9th century. Although the origins of the town's name have been much debated, it is thought to have come from the Arabic word "xacca", meaning "water". The Saracens built the original walls and laid out the street grid, which was later expanded by the Normans. Throughout much of the Middle Ages, the town was at the center of a bloody feud between rival baronial families and, it was the citizenry that bore the brunt of the fighting; in less than 100 years over half the population was killed by one side or the other.

[edit] Main sights

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Sciacca still retains much of its medieval layout, which divided the town into quarters, each laid out on a strip of rock descending toward the sea. Sciacca has several points of interest, including:

the Cathedral of Maria SS. del Soccorso (12th century, rebuilt in 1685)
the Castle of the Counts Luna. Of the Old Castle scarce remains can be still seen.
church of Santa Margherita
Chiesa del Carmine [Chiesa del Carmine Exterior:[1]]
Church of San Domenico (1176)
Church of San Michele (1371, rebuilt in the 17th century) [San Michele Exterior:[2]]
Church of Santa Maria delle Giummare
Palazzo Steripinto [Palazzo Steripinto Exterior:[3]]
Palazzo Tagliavia (1tth century), in Neo-Gothic style
Palazzo Perollo (15th century)

[edit] Culture

Sciacca's big festival is Carnevale, celebrated during the week before the beginning of Lent (February). The highlight of the festival is the parade of bizarre figures mounted on floats, famous throughout Italy for their gaudy expressions.