Palma di Montechiaro (Agrigento Province) is 27 km. from Agrigento, alt. 265 m., in the coastal hills on the River Palma, area 76.36 sq. km., pop. over 24,900, post-code 92020, tel. 0922. Economy: agriculture, livestock breeding, small food, wine and furniture industries.
The town takes its name from the hill over-looking its present site (where the Chiaromontine Castle stands) and from the palm-tree, the symbol of glory, which appears on the coat of arms of the De Caro family, who owned the fief in the 15th century.
The present-day city was founded in 1637 by Carlo Tomasi and De Caro in the fief of Montechiaro, which belonged to the writer Tomasi di Lampedusa's family until 1812.
Of interest is the Palace of the Princes of Lampedusa. On the slopes of a little mountain one km. north of town is the Grotta Zubbia, with Neolithic and Copper Age items. About 2 km. from town is the Castello di Montechiaro, probably built by Federico III Chiaromonte in the 14th century. Toward the sea is the 16th century Torre de Gaffe and the 16th century Torre di San Nicola.
Churches (Agrigento Diocese) include the following:
Maria SS. del Rosario (Chiesa Madre, Baroque)
B.M.V. Immacolata
Maria SS. delle Grazie
S. Giuseppe Maria Tomasi
Sacro Famiglia
San Antonio di Padova
Santa Maria degli Angeli
Transfigurazione di N.S.G.C.
S. Giuseppe Arigiano (Capreria - suburbof Palma di Montechiaro)
Links to other sites about Palma di Montechiaro include:
Palma di Montechiaro
Italian Wikipedia
Italian Towns
Italian Postal Codes
Sicily Web
Sicilia
Sicilian Net
My latest book on CD is titled Sicily - A Reference for Researchers and is now available. With a file for each town (plus many other files), it relates the history of Sicily as reflected in the photos, records and festivals of its towns. It contains over 2500 text and photo files and can be ordered at CD order.
The town takes its name from the hill over-looking its present site (where the Chiaromontine Castle stands) and from the palm-tree, the symbol of glory, which appears on the coat of arms of the De Caro family, who owned the fief in the 15th century.
The present-day city was founded in 1637 by Carlo Tomasi and De Caro in the fief of Montechiaro, which belonged to the writer Tomasi di Lampedusa's family until 1812.
Of interest is the Palace of the Princes of Lampedusa. On the slopes of a little mountain one km. north of town is the Grotta Zubbia, with Neolithic and Copper Age items. About 2 km. from town is the Castello di Montechiaro, probably built by Federico III Chiaromonte in the 14th century. Toward the sea is the 16th century Torre de Gaffe and the 16th century Torre di San Nicola.
Churches (Agrigento Diocese) include the following:
Links to other sites about Palma di Montechiaro include:
My latest book on CD is titled Sicily - A Reference for Researchers and is now available. With a file for each town (plus many other files), it relates the history of Sicily as reflected in the photos, records and festivals of its towns. It contains over 2500 text and photo files and can be ordered at CD order.
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