Sciacca

Sciacca
Country	Italy
region	Sicily
Free community consortium	Agrigento (AG)
Local name	Sciacca
Coordinates	37 ° 31 ' N , 13 ° 5' E Coordinates: 37 ° 30 '33 " N , 13 ° 5' 20" E
height	60 m slm
surface	190.98 km²
Residents	40,068 (Dec. 31, 2019)
Population density	210 inhabitants / km²
Post Code	92019
prefix	0925
ISTAT number	084041
Popular name	Saccensi, Sciacchitani
Patron saint	Maria SS. Del Soccorso
Website	Sciacca

View of the city from the port

Thermal bath

Castello Incantato sculpture garden

Sciacca [ʃakka] is a port city and a thermal spa in the Mediterranean in the consortium of municipalities Agrigento outdoors in the region Sicily in Italy .

Location and dates

The port city of Sciacca is about 50 kilometers northwest of Agrigento . The city has 40,068 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019) who are employed in industry, agriculture and tourism (including thermal baths ).

Sciacca, together with the municipalities of Menfi , Sambuca di Sicilia and Santa Margherita di Belice, forms one of the most important wine-growing regions in Sicily. Since 1998 there has been a controlled designation of origin for quality wine ( Denominazione di origine controllata ) for the municipality's vineyards with the "DOC Sciacca" .

The neighboring municipalities are Caltabellotta , Menfi, Ribera and Sambuca di Sicilia.

After the rail traffic to Sciacca was discontinued in 1985, the place can only be reached by road (or by sea) today.

history

In the east of the city are the remains of a Sican settlement, called Figuli settlement, which documents an already prehistoric settlement of the area around Sciacca. The find of the Bronze Age statuette of Melqart of Sciacca is significant . The Romans already knew the healing springs.

The city grew under the rule of the Arabs and Normans. The current structure of the old town was created under the Arabs. The city wall and the fort were also built at this time. The name of the city comes from Arabic ( Arabic الشقا Al Shaqqah , DMG aš-Šaqqā ).

In 1330 the city walls and the fort were renewed under Frederick II of Aragon . New churches and monasteries were built in the 16th century. After this period, as a result of the feud (Caso di Sciacca) between the Perollo family and the Counts of Luna, which lasted almost 70 years, the city fell into disrepair.

During the Second World War there was a strategically important military airfield near Sciacca ( ⊙ ), which was also called aeroporto fantasma because of its very good camouflage . 37.575 13.058333333333

After the Second World War, today's thermal facilities were built.

Viticulture

Since 1998 there has been a denomination for quality wines called "Sciacca DOC", which was last updated in 2014. Both white and red blended wines as well as almost single-variety wines are produced. If the grape variety is mentioned on the label , it must contain at least 85%. There is a sub-zone (sottozona) called "Rayana".

Culture

Along with Acireale and Termini Imerese, Sciacca is one of the carnival strongholds of Sicily.

Buildings

Thermal baths on Monte Kronio and Via Agatocle
Castello dei conti Luna
Chiesa di Maria SS. Del Soccorso, cathedral built in the 12th century (facade from the 16th century)
Piazza Scandaliato, center of the city with the 17th century town hall
Castello Incantato , sculpture garden

Surroundings

The Monte San Calogero or Monte Kronio is located in the east of the city and is the highest point in the city. On top of it is the unfinished Hotel Grande San Calogero .