| Parco suburbano San Francesco | |
|---|---|
 Entrance of the park | |
 | |
| Type | Municipal |
| Location | Alcamo |
| Coordinates | 37°58′53″N12°58′11″E / 37.981423°N 12.969702°E |
| Area | 1,200 square metres |
| Created | 1998 |
| Status | Open all year |
The Parco Suburbano San Francesco (Suburban Park San Francesco) is located below the bastion of Piazza Bagolino, in Alcamo, at the entrance of the town, near Porta Palermo.
This mediterranean garden was created thanks to the approval of the project by the town administration, led by doctor Massimo Ferrara, Lord Mayor from 1993 to 2001.
In the sixties, they had planned the creation of some outdoor sports facilities in this area; at the time Mr. Ludovico Corrao (later Lord Mayor of Alcamo from 1960 to 1962) was the Regional Minister for Public Works under the government of Silvio Milazzo. He got to realize some works in Alcamo, among which the bronze bas-reliefs of Porta Palermo, commissioned to the sculptor Nicola Rubino, representing "The poet Cielo d'Alcamo at Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor’s court" and "Active life in Alcamo". [1]
The park, with an area of about 12,000 square metres, is like a charming garden with various kinds of plants and trees, typical of the flora of macchia mediterranea. As soon as you get in, on the right you can see the memorial tree, dedicated to the two carabiniers killed on 27 January 1977 in the Strage di Alcamo Marina’ slaughter: Carmine Apuzzo and Salvatore Falcetta.
On 18 November 2014 the town administration, led by doctor Sebastiano Bonventre, by public invitation, entrusted it to Associazione Laurus, whose President was dottor Gianni Gervasi at that time; its volunteers soon provided to clean it and do the maintenance of the green. [2] Moreover, they realized a playground for children, a little petting zoo and an easy access for disabled people.
During the school year, they make cultural and gaming activities for children, and various educational workshops for the pupils of primary school. [2]
In August, since 2010, "Alcart - legalità e cultura" organizes some events with different events (exhibitions, seminars, music, theatre etc.). [3]
In April 2016, there was another event called “Festa di Primavera” (Spring Festival): its aim was to let children approach nature; besides taking part in lessons and games, they also saw the planting of some little plants of flowers given by Associazione Laurus itself. [4]
In September 2016, the same association organized the Giornata Nazionale dei Giochi della Gentilezza (the National Day of the Games of Kindness), for kids aged 6–14: the aim of this activity was to reinforce interpersonal skills, accepting and collaborating with other people, and motivating to the use of kind words, being inspired by stories.
Finally, in December, they realized the third edition of the event Natale al Parco (Christmas at the Park), with choruses, exhibitions, parades, Christmas markets and the Living Crib.
Alcamo is the fourth-largest town in the province of Trapani in Sicily, with a population of 44.925 inhabitants. It is on the borderline with the Metropolitan City of Palermo at a distance of about 50 kilometres from Palermo and Trapani.
Our Lady of Miracles is the patron saint of the town of Alcamo.
Sant'Oliva is a catholic church located in Alcamo, province of Trapani, Sicily, southern Italy.
Badia Nuova is a Catholic church located in Alcamo, in the province of Trapani, Sicily, southern Italy.
Santissima Trinità is a Catholic church in Alcamo, in the province of Trapani.
San Giuseppe Lavoratore is a Catholic Church located in Alcamo, in the province of Trapani.
San Pietro Apostolo is a Catholic church in Alcamo in the province of Trapani.
The Sanctuary of the Most Holy Mary of the Height is a place of Marian devotion, located on the top of Mount Bonifato, in Alcamo in the province of Trapani, Italy.
The Pia Opera Pastore was a private charitable institution, mainly in support of poor and sick people, which had its seat in the palace of the baron Felice Pastore near Porta Trapani, in Alcamo.
Carlo Cataldo was an Italian historian, poet, and teacher.
The Museum of contemporary art of Alcamo is located in Piazza Ciullo in Alcamo, inside the Ex Collegio dei Gesuiti, near the majestic Church of Jesus. The exhibition centre, large about 400 square metres, is on the first floor; at the entrance there are an information desk, a meeting room and a bookshop.
Gino Patti (1925–1993) was a surrealist painter of the 20th century; he was of noble origins and native from Alcamo, in Sicily.
Nicola Rubino was an Italian sculptor and painter.
Monsignor Vincenzo Regina was an Italian presbyter and historian.
The Geosite Travertino della Cava Cappuccini is located in Alcamo, in the province of Trapani, in Sicily.
Antonino Raspanti is an Italian Bishop of the Catholic Church; he has been the Bishop of Acireale since 26 July 2011.
Palazzo Fraccia is a mansion in the town centre of Alcamo, in the province of Trapani.
Piazza Bagolino is one of the main squares of Alcamo, in the province of Trapani. It is located near the town centre and it is one of the town attractions.
The Massacre of Alcamo Marina refers to a double murder that occurred on 27 January 1976 in a Carabinieri station at Alcamo Marina, situated in the province of Trapani in the Italian island of Sicily. In the middle of the night, unknown gunmen broke into the station and shot dead two Carabinieri officers. Initially the Red Brigades were suspected, although they denied having anything to do with the attack, but eventually some youngsters from the area, including Giuseppe Gulotta, were arrested and convicted, and then absolved after more than 30 years. The Gulotta case represents one of the worst cases of miscarriage of justice and unjust detention in Italian history: Gulotta spent 22 years in jail and was then acquitted during a revisal of the trial, which took place after one of the Carabinieri officers involved in the investigation admitted that Gulotta's confession was obtained through torture and intimidation.
Michela Ramadori is an Italian art historian, author and academic.