Gangi
Encyclopedia
Gangi is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Palermo
in the Italian
region Sicily
, located about 80 km southeast of Palermo
.
Gangi borders the following municipalities: Alimena
, Blufi
, Bompietro
, Calascibetta
, Enna
, Geraci Siculo
, Nicosia
, Petralia Soprana
, Sperlinga
. The town straddles the Madonie
mountains of central Sicily
.
, or Hebrita, but this theory remains unconfirmed. Traces of Roman presence are instead testified by archaeological excavations under the Abbey of Gangivecchio.
The current settlement dates to 1300, when it was rebuilt on the Monte Marone after its destruction in the course of the Sicilian Vespers
war, as part of the county of Geraci. In 1625 it was acquired by the Graffeo family who, four years later, were made Princes of Gangi; in 1677 the title went to the Valguarnera. In the 18th century Gangi was a flourishing cultural centre, with several literary clubs and the construction of notable noble residences.
Later, after the unification of Italy, Gangi was the centre of fierce suppression of brigands who lived in the area. In 1926 it was the location of one of the hardest repression of mafia
in Italy, carried out by the local prefect Cesare Mori
.
Gangi was also a common last name for members of the Italian mob.
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 Palermo
Province of Palermo
The Province of Palermo is a province in the autonomous region of Sicily, a major island in Southern Italy. Its capital is the city of Palermo. The Province of Palermo has 82 comuni , 1,239,272 inhabitants, and is 4,992 km² .-External links:...
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 80 km southeast 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...
.
Gangi borders the following municipalities: Alimena
Alimena
Alimena is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 80 km southeast of Palermo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,363 and an area of 59.4 km²....
, Blufi
Blufi
Blufi is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 70 km southeast of Palermo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,169 and an area of 20.5 km²....
, Bompietro
Bompietro
Bompietro is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 80 km southeast of Palermo...
, Calascibetta
Calascibetta
Calascibetta is a comune in Sicily, Italy in the Province of Enna.Calascibetta is a small town in Sicily. Many Calascibetta's live throughout the world. With hundreds throughout North America and many scattered throughout Europe. Calascibetta is not only a town but an Italian last name that has...
, Enna
Enna
Enna is a city and comune located roughly at the center of Sicily, southern Italy, in the province of Enna, towering above the surrounding countryside...
, Geraci Siculo
Geraci Siculo
Geraci Siculo is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 70 km southeast of Palermo...
, Nicosia
Nicosia (EN)
Nicosia is a city and comune of the province of Enna in Sicily, southern Italy. The vicinity traditionally contained are salt mines and arable lands...
, Petralia Soprana
Petralia Soprana
Petralia Soprana is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 70 km southeast of Palermo...
, Sperlinga
Sperlinga
Sperlinga is a comune in the province of Enna, in region of Sicily in southern Italy....
. The town straddles the Madonie
Madonie
The Madonie are one of the principal mountain groups in Sicily, southern Italy, part of the Sicilian portion of the Apennines. It is located in Palermo Province...
mountains of central 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,...
.
History
Gangi's origines have been connected to the ancient Greek city of EngyonEngyon
Engyon is a legendary ancient town of the interior of Sicily, a Cretan colony, according to legend, and famous for an ancient temple of the Matres which aroused the greed of Verres. Its site is uncertain; some topographers have identified it with Gangi, a town 30 km SSE of Cefalù, but only on...
, or Hebrita, but this theory remains unconfirmed. Traces of Roman presence are instead testified by archaeological excavations under the Abbey of Gangivecchio.
The current settlement dates to 1300, when it was rebuilt on the Monte Marone after its destruction in the course of the Sicilian Vespers
Sicilian Vespers
The Sicilian Vespers is the name given to the successful rebellion on the island of Sicily that broke out on the Easter of 1282 against the rule of the French/Angevin king Charles I, who had ruled the Kingdom of Sicily since 1266. Within six weeks three thousand French men and women were slain by...
war, as part of the county of Geraci. In 1625 it was acquired by the Graffeo family who, four years later, were made Princes of Gangi; in 1677 the title went to the Valguarnera. In the 18th century Gangi was a flourishing cultural centre, with several literary clubs and the construction of notable noble residences.
Later, after the unification of Italy, Gangi was the centre of fierce suppression of brigands who lived in the area. In 1926 it was the location of one of the hardest repression of mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
in Italy, carried out by the local prefect Cesare Mori
Cesare Mori
Cesare Mori was a prefect before and during the Fascist period in Italy. He is known in Italy as the Iron Prefect because of his iron-fisted campaigns against the Mafia on Sicily in the second half of the 1920s.- Early years :Mori was born in Pavia and grew up in an orphananage and was only...
.
Gangi was also a common last name for members of the Italian mob.
Main sights
- The Castle, on the highest part of Mount Marone, built probably in the 14th century. It was the seat of the county lords.
- Palazzo Sgadari and Palazzo Bongiorno, two notable noble residences.
- Mother church of San Nicolò di Bari (14th century). Today it is connected to the large Ventimiglia tower, which has been turned into a campanile. It houses a Final Judgement by Giuseppe Salerno, several statues by the local sculptor Filippo Quattrocchi, 18th century frescoes in the SS. Sacrament oratory and a crypt with mummies of priests.
- Sanctuary of the Spirito Santo.
- Abbey of Gangivecchio (1366).
- The notable RomanesqueRomanesque architectureRomanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
church of San Giuseppe dei Ricchi (also known as San Paolo). - Late Baroque Chiesa della Badia.
- Parish church of Santa Maria del Gesù, with a Romanesque campanile. It houses the precious sculptures of Madonna with Child and Annunciation by Quattrocchi.
External links
- Official website
- http://www.gangivecchio.org/home