Terrasini
Encyclopedia
Terrasini is a town and comune
in the Province of Palermo
on the island of Sicily
in Italy
.
and Trapani
, between the mountains and the Gulf of Castellammare
near the Palermo International Airport
.
Terrasini's population works mainly in fishing and tourism. The population triples during the summer.
Bounding communes are: Carini
, Cinisi
, Partinico
and Trappeto
.
"terra sinus" = "land at the gulf" (the Gulf of Castellamare) or from "terra sinorum" = "land of the bays" due to the strongly curved coastline with a large number of larger and smaller bays. The name was first cited for the region in a letter of saint Martin della Scale of November 24, 1350 as "terras vocatas li Terrasini".
The grottoes in the area of Terrasini were inhabited already in the late paleolithic times. On different sites, tracks of Roman
settlers were found.
The origin of the town goes back to the late medieval times to a small settlement (called Favarotta) of agricultural workers on the large-scale landed property of the family "La Grua Talamanca" from Carini
.
In the 17th century, fishermen settled at the coast. When the former feudal property was left to the agricultural workers for cultivation, a flourishing agriculture developed around the fishers' village.
Modern Terrasini was founded October 24, 1836, when King Ferdinand II
issued a decree that the village Favarotta, then considered part of neighboring Cinisi, should be merged with adjoining Terrasini as a single community.
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:...
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:...
on the island of 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,...
in Italy
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...
.
Data
Terrasini is located 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) west of Palermo at the motorway between PalermoPalermo
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...
and Trapani
Trapani
Trapani is a city and comune on the west coast of Sicily in Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Trapani. Founded by Elymians, the city is still an important fishing port and the main gateway to the nearby Egadi Islands.-History:...
, between the mountains and the Gulf of Castellammare
Castellammare
Castellammare may refer to one the following municipalities in southern Italy:*Castellammare di Stabia, a commune in Napoli province, Campania region...
near the Palermo International Airport
Palermo International Airport
-The Company:GESAP S.p.a. is the airport management company of "Falcone e Borsellino" Airport in Palermo. It has a fully paid-up share capital of € 15,912,332.00 divided between the Regional Province of Palermo, the Comune of Palermo, the Chamber of Commerce, the Comune of Cinisi and other minor...
.
Terrasini's population works mainly in fishing and tourism. The population triples during the summer.
Bounding communes are: Carini
Carini
Carini is a town and comune in the Province of Palermo, Sicily, 13 miles by rail WNW of Palermo. It has a population of 25,752....
, Cinisi
Cinisi
Cinisi is a town and a comune in the province of Palermo in Sicily. As of 2007 it had an estimated population of 12,100.-Geography:The town is part of the Palermo metropolitan area, borders with the municipalities of Carini and Terrasini and count the civil parish of Punta Raisi, seat of Palermo...
, Partinico
Partinico
Partinico is a town and comune in the province of Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy...
and Trappeto
Trappeto
Trappeto is an Italian municipality of 3,123 inhabitants in the province of Palermo, located in the north-west part of Sicily. It is part of the metropolitan area of Palermo....
.
History
The name Terrasini probably derives from LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
"terra sinus" = "land at the gulf" (the Gulf of Castellamare) or from "terra sinorum" = "land of the bays" due to the strongly curved coastline with a large number of larger and smaller bays. The name was first cited for the region in a letter of saint Martin della Scale of November 24, 1350 as "terras vocatas li Terrasini".
The grottoes in the area of Terrasini were inhabited already in the late paleolithic times. On different sites, tracks of Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
settlers were found.
The origin of the town goes back to the late medieval times to a small settlement (called Favarotta) of agricultural workers on the large-scale landed property of the family "La Grua Talamanca" from Carini
Carini
Carini is a town and comune in the Province of Palermo, Sicily, 13 miles by rail WNW of Palermo. It has a population of 25,752....
.
In the 17th century, fishermen settled at the coast. When the former feudal property was left to the agricultural workers for cultivation, a flourishing agriculture developed around the fishers' village.
Modern Terrasini was founded October 24, 1836, when King Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies
Ferdinand II was King of the Two Sicilies from 1830 until his death.-Family:Ferdinand was born in Palermo, the son of King Francis I of the Two Sicilies and his wife and first cousin Maria Isabella of Spain.His paternal grandparents were King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and Queen Marie...
issued a decree that the village Favarotta, then considered part of neighboring Cinisi, should be merged with adjoining Terrasini as a single community.
Culture
- Chiesa Madre "Maria SS delle Grazie", (18th century, facade of 1901)
- Chiesa "Maria SS della Provvidenza"
- Chiesa "Maria SS del Rosario"
- Chiesa "S Rosalia", (18th century)
- Palazzo Grua, (18th century), now seat of the town administration
- Palazzo Cataldi, (18th century), now seat of the town library
- Palazzo Aumale, built in the 19th century as a wineryWineryA winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of...
by Henri d'Orléans, duc d'AumaleHenri d'Orléans, duc d'Aumale-Bibliophile:He was a noted collector of old manuscripts and books. His library remains at Chantilly.-Death:By his will of the June 3, 1884, however, he had bequeathed to the Institute of France his Chantilly estate, including the Château de Chantilly, with all the art-collection he had collected...
, the son of king Louis-Philippe of FranceLouis-Philippe of FranceLouis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
, now comprising the three sections of the Museo Civico:- Museo del Caretto (ethno-anthropological section)
- Antiquarium (archeological section)
- Museum of history of nature
- Old watchtowers along the coast: Torre Alba (16th century), Torre di Capo Rama (15th century), Torre Toledo or Paternella (16th century)
- Villa Fassini
- Fishers and tourists port
Nature
- Grotta Perciata, a large grotto in the cliffs
- Cala Rossa (red bay, due to the red colour of the rocks)
- Natural Park (Riserva Naturale) Capo Rama
Festivals
- Festa di li schietti (on Easter Sunday)
- Festa di San Pietro (in August)
- Festa di Maria Santissima delle Grazie (beginning of September)
- Estate Terrasinense (June - September): Season of theater and concert performances throughout the town
External links
- Terrasini on line (official site in Italian)
- Terrasini
- Photo Album Terrasini