Province of Agrigento | |
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![]() Monte delle Rose (IT), Mountain of Roses (EN), Muntagna de Rosi (Sicilian), Mali i Trëndafilët (Arbëreshe) | |
![]() Map highlighting the location of the province of Agrigento in Italy | |
Coordinates: 37°19′N13°35′E / 37.317°N 13.583°E | |
Country | ![]() |
Region | ![]() |
Capital(s) | Agrigento |
Comuni | 43 |
Government | |
• President | Eugenio D'Orsi |
Area | |
• Total | 3,042 km2 (1,175 sq mi) |
Population (30 June 2009) | |
• Total | 454,370 |
• Density | 150/km2 (390/sq mi) |
GDP | |
• Total | €6.558 billion (2015) |
• Per capita | €14,690 (2015) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 92100, 92010-92029 |
Telephone prefix | 0922, 0925 |
Vehicle registration | AG |
ISTAT | 084 |
Website | www |
The province of Agrigento (Italian : provincia di Agrigento; Sicilian : pruvincia di Girgenti) is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily, Italy, situated on its south-western coast. Following the suppression of the Sicilian provinces, it was replaced in 2015 by the Free Municipal Consortium of Agrigento (Italian: libero consorzio comunale di Agrigento). It has an area of 3,041.90 square kilometres (1,174.48 sq mi), and a total population of 474,493. [2] There are 43 comuni (sg.: comune ) in the province. [3]
It is surrounded by province of Palermo in the north, Trapani in the west, Mediterranean Sea in the south, and Caltanissetta in the east. Gela inhabitants founded the province in the 6th century BC as Akragas. Carthage destroyed the province in 406 BC, but it was later ruled by the Romans, Goths, Byzantines, and Arabs. The Arabs rebuilt several parts of the province. Several ancient Doric temples were constructed during the 6th and 5th century BC to worship Hercules, Jupiter, Juno, Castor, Pollux, and Demeter. They are located in the Valley of Temples (Italian: Valle dei Templi). [4] The ancient temples and other architectural structures were built using the stones of the hills near Capo San Marco. [5]
Here below are listed the towns of the province with more than 10,000 inhabitants:
Agrigento is the birthplace of the noted writer Luigi Pirandello and the philosopher Empedocles. [3] According to the government records the number of unemployed people is about 17% of the total labour force. [2] The province faces the Channel of Sicily in the south and is known for its beaches. Torre Salsa's beaches have been designated natural reserves and are protected due to their environmental importance. [5]
The province is well known for its vineyards and wines. The total area covered by vineyards in 1984 was almost triple to that in 1949. [7] During this period Marsala based wine merchants used the grapes produced in the province to produce Marsala wine. In 1984 the local government passed a law that regulated this practice. [8] Around three-quarters of the Sicilian land devoted to growing Fiano grapes is in the province. [9] Some of the important municipalities known for their vineyards include Sambuca di Sicilia, Menfi, and Santa Margherita di Belice. [10]
The road network in the province comprises 540 km. of street roads, 1,000 km. of provincial roads, 260 km. of communal roads and 56 km. of regional roads. 55% of the total rail network is suitable for electric trains. [2]
Sicily, officially Sicilian Region, is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy. With 4.8 million inhabitants, including 1.3 million in and around the capital city of Palermo, it is the most populous island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is named after the Sicels, who inhabited the eastern part of the island during the Iron Age. Sicily has a rich and unique culture in arts, music, literature, cuisine, and architecture. Its most prominent landmark is Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, and one of the most active in the world, currently 3,357 m (11,014 ft) high. The island has a typical Mediterranean climate. It is separated from Calabria by the Strait of Messina. It is one of the five Italian autonomous regions and is generally considered part of Southern Italy.
Marsala is an Italian comune located in the Province of Trapani in the westernmost part of Sicily. Marsala is the most populated town in its province and the fifth largest in Sicily.
Marsala is a fortified wine, dry or sweet, produced in the region surrounding the Italian city of Marsala in Sicily. Marsala first received Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) status in 1969. The European Union grants Protected designation of origin (PDO) status to Marsala and most other countries limit the use of the term Marsala to products from the Marsala area.
Agrigento is a city on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy and capital of the province of Agrigento.
Sciacca is a town and comune in the province of Agrigento on the southwestern coast of Sicily, southern Italy. It has views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Gela is a city and comune (municipality) in the Autonomous Region of Sicily, Italy; in terms of area and population, it is the largest municipality on the southern coast of Sicily. Gela is part of the Province of Caltanissetta and is one of the few comuni in Italy with a population and area that exceed those of the provincial capital.
The province of Caltanissetta is a province in the southern part of Sicily, Italy. Following the suppression of the Sicilian provinces, it was replaced in 2015 by the free municipal consortium of Caltanissetta. The province contains 22 comuni. Its coat of arms is a red crest and two green leaf stems on top with a laurel leaf on the right and a crown in the middle. The River Salso is the main river of the province; it is 122 kilometres (76 mi) long and originates in the province of Palermo, and it flows into the Mediterranean in this province at the end of the Gulf of Gela.
The province of Trapani is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily, Italy. Following the suppression of the Sicilian provinces, it was replaced in 2015 by the free municipal consortium of Trapani. Its capital is the city of Trapani. It has an area of 2,469.62 square kilometres (953.53 sq mi) and a total population of 433,826 (2017). There are 25 comuni in the province.
The province of Palermo was a province in the autonomous region of Sicily, a major island in Southern Italy. Its capital was the city of Palermo. On 4 August 2015, it was replaced by the Metropolitan City of Palermo.
Porto Empedocle is a town and comune in Italy on the coast of the Strait of Sicily, administratively part of the province of Agrigento. It was named after Empedocles, a Greek pre-Socratic philosopher and a citizen of the city of Akragas, in his day a Greek colony in Sicily. The primary industries of Porto Empedocle are agriculture, fishing, ironworking, pharmaceuticals and rock salt refining.
Casteldaccia is a town of 11,628 inhabitants and comune near the Metropolitan City of Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy, founded by Marquis Longarini. It is the seat of the Vini Corvo wine producer, and the Tomasello Pasta factory.
Grillo, also known as Riddu and Rossese bianco, is a white Italian wine grape variety that withstands high temperatures and is widely used in Sicilian winemaking and, in particular, for making Marsala. Its origins are uncertain, but it may have been introduced into the island of Sicily from Apulia. It was already widely planted in the Province of Trapani by 1897; today it may be grown throughout Sicily and also in the Aeolian Islands.
Bisacquino is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Palermo in Sicily, Italy. It is located 82 kilometres (51 mi) from Agrigento and has approximately 4,500 inhabitants. The small town rises on an inner hill zone and is 700 metres (2,300 ft) above sea-level. The economy is based on agriculture and products are sold in abundance in the main town including cereals, olives, vegetables, almonds, hazel nuts and wine-grapes. Sheep breeding is also active in Bisacquino.
Montevago is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Agrigento in the Italian region Sicily, located about 60 kilometres southwest of Palermo and about 70 kilometres northwest of Agrigento.
Sambuca di Sicilia is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Agrigento in the Italian region Sicily, located about 68 kilometres (42 mi) southwest of Palermo and about 89 kilometres (55 mi) northwest of Agrigento. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia.
Castiglione di Sicilia is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia.
Marinella di Selinunte, also known as Marinella, is a southern Italian village and hamlet (frazione) of Castelvetrano, a municipality in the Province of Trapani, Sicily. It is located close to the Ancient Greek city of Selinunte and, in 2011, it had a population of 1,499.
Ansonica or Inzolia is a white Italian wine grape planted primarily in western Sicily where it can be used to produce Marsala wine. The grape is noted for its nutty aroma. In Tuscany, the grape is known as Ansonica. It is the chief component of the Tuscan D.O.C. Ansonica Costa dell'Argentario, which is located on the extreme southern coast of Tuscany and on the island of Giglio.
Arianna Occhipinti (1982-) is an Italian winemaker and winery owner based in Vittoria, Italy. She is based in the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, where she grows Nero d’Avola and Frappato grapes. Occhipinti has worked in the wine industry since age 16, and has released red wine vintages under her own label starting at age 22. She is known for growing wines in the biodynamic methodology.
Within the Cosa Nostra, a mandamento is traditionally a district of three geographically contiguous Mafia cosche, which are families controlling a single land feud, or a city ward, in Sicily. A capomandamento represents the head of a territory, the mandamento, and is usually entitled to be part of the provincial Mafia Commission.