Calamonaci
Encyclopedia
Calamonaci is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Agrigento
in the Italian
region Sicily
, located about 70 km south of Palermo
and about 35 km northwest of Agrigento
.
The main activity is agriculture, with cultivation of almonds, olives, grapes, honey
, citrus fruits, and a specific variety of extra virgin olive oil called "biancolilla". Cattle
breeding and apiculture are flourishing. Also very characteristic are the local handicraft objects, such as brooms, bread baskets, and the so called "coffe" (big hand-woven wicker baskets).
Sights include the Mother Church, dedicated to Saint Vincenzo Ferreri and erected in 1580, and the small Convento dei Carmelitani (Convent of the Carmelitani, 17th century) and only partially visible today.
term Kal-at-Munach, meaning "pit stop farm house", because anciently it used to be a station where diligences changed their horses. The first center was founded approximately during the 13th century by the Arabs, who built a farm house.
In 1278, it was bestowed by King James II of Aragon
to Lord Berengar de Villaragut. Afterwards, it belonged respectively to the Inveges Barons and to the noble Perollo family from Sciacca
, and it was always uninhabited.
The current urban structure was created during 1574, thanks to nobleman Antonio De Termini who achieved the appropriate "licenti populandi".
Afterwards, the feud became property of Lord Vespasiano De Spuches, and then seat of the Montaperto of Raffadali Barons. In 1812, the town became autonomous after the abolition of feudalism.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the Province of Agrigento
Province of Agrigento
Agrigento is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy. It has an area of 3,042 km², and a total population of 454,370...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, located about 70 km south of Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
and about 35 km northwest of Agrigento
Agrigento
Agrigento , is a city on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy, and capital of the province of Agrigento. It is renowned as the site of the ancient Greek city of Akragas , one of the leading cities of Magna Graecia during the golden...
.
The main activity is agriculture, with cultivation of almonds, olives, grapes, honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
, citrus fruits, and a specific variety of extra virgin olive oil called "biancolilla". Cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
breeding and apiculture are flourishing. Also very characteristic are the local handicraft objects, such as brooms, bread baskets, and the so called "coffe" (big hand-woven wicker baskets).
Sights include the Mother Church, dedicated to Saint Vincenzo Ferreri and erected in 1580, and the small Convento dei Carmelitani (Convent of the Carmelitani, 17th century) and only partially visible today.
History
The name Calamonaci derives from the ArabArab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
term Kal-at-Munach, meaning "pit stop farm house", because anciently it used to be a station where diligences changed their horses. The first center was founded approximately during the 13th century by the Arabs, who built a farm house.
In 1278, it was bestowed by King James II of Aragon
James II of Aragon
James II , called the Just was the King of Sicily from 1285 to 1296 and King of Aragon and Valencia and Count of Barcelona from 1291 to 1327. In 1297 he was granted the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica...
to Lord Berengar de Villaragut. Afterwards, it belonged respectively to the Inveges Barons and to the noble Perollo family from Sciacca
Sciacca
Sciacca , also Schiacca, is a town and comune in the province of Agrigento on the southwestern coast of Sicily...
, and it was always uninhabited.
The current urban structure was created during 1574, thanks to nobleman Antonio De Termini who achieved the appropriate "licenti populandi".
Afterwards, the feud became property of Lord Vespasiano De Spuches, and then seat of the Montaperto of Raffadali Barons. In 1812, the town became autonomous after the abolition of feudalism.