Terrasini
Terrasini is a municipality in the province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, with 11,967 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012).
Location and data
Terrasini is located about 30 km west of Palermo on the A29 motorway to Trapani, between the mountains and the Gulf of Castellammare near the Palermo airport.
The city is on the railway line Palermo - Trapani connected.
The inhabitants mainly work in agriculture in the fishing and tourism.
The neighboring municipalities are Carini, Cinisi Partinico and Trappeto.
History
The name Terrasini probably derives from Latin: from terra sine = country on the Gulf ( the Gulf of Castellammare ) or terra Sinorum = land of bays because of the tortuous coastline in this area with many large and small bays. First mentioned is the name for the area of the present town, in a letter of St. Martin della Scale of 24 November in 1350 as the terras vocatas li Terrasini.
The caves in the area of Terrasini were inhabited as early as the Upper Paleolithic. At various points of the urban area, there are also traces of Roman settlers.
The origin ( formerly called Favarotta ) of the present village lies probably in the late Middle Ages, when settled agricultural workers here. The area belonged to the large estates of La Grua Talamanca family from Carini. In the 17th century fishermen settled on the coast. When former fief was given to the farm workers on long lease, was built around the fishing village around a flourishing agriculture.
The founding Terrasini as a separate community was October 24, 1836 that day., King Ferdinand II issued a decree according to which the village Favarotta should no longer belong to the Commune Cinisi, but under the name Terrasini should form their own community.
Attractions
Churches
- Chiesa Madre " Maria Santissima delle Grazie " (begun in 1684, establishing a parish in 1749, facade 1901)
- Chiesa " Maria Santissima della Provvidenza "
- Chiesa " Maria Santissima del Rosario "
- Chiesa Santa Rosalia from the 18th century
- Chiesa Anime Sante del Purgatorio
- Sanctuary " Maria Santissima di Trapani "
Chiesa Madre
Santa Maria del Rosario
Santa Maria della Provvidenza
Palazzi
- Palazzo Grua, (18th century), now seat of the Municipality
- Palazzo Cataldi, (18th century), now seat of the municipal library
- Palazzo Aumale, founded in the 19th century as a winery by Henri d' Orléans, duc d' Aumale, the son of King Louis- Philippe of France
Palazzo Cataldi
Palazzo d' Aumale, main facade
Palazzo d' Aumale, Patio
Museo Civico
The Museo Civico is housed in the Palazzo Aumale and divided into three sections:
- Ethnological section (Museo del Caretto ), including a collection of brightly painted Sicilian donkey cart
- Archaeological section ( Antiquarium ) focusing underwater archeology ( Roman ships ) and a collection of amphorae
- Natural history department, including one of the largest collections of stuffed birds of Europe, butterfly and insect collections
- Paleontological and geological collections
Antiquarium
Finds of underwater archeology
Others
- Art Nouveau villa Fassini by Ernesto Basile
- Fishing port and marina
- Old watchtowers along the coast: Torrealba (16th century), Torre di Capo Rama (15th century), Torre Toledo or Father Ella (16th century)
Beach
Torrealba
Torre di Capo Rama
Nature
- Grotta Perciata, a large cave on the cliffs at sea level
- Cala Rossa (red bay because of the reddish color of the rocks )
- Nature Reserve ( Riserva Naturale ) Capo Rama
Caves in the cliffs
Festivals
- Festa di li schietti ( Easter ): In the solid young men have to lift a 50 -pound orange tree with one hand and hold it in balance.
- Festa di San Pietro (in August)
- Festa di Maria SS delle Grazie ( early September)
- Estate Terrasinense ( June-September): plays and concerts