Siculiana>Itinerary 1

The town of Siculiana was established in the 14th century by the noble family of Chiaramonte: their Castle and the nearby Mother Church define its skyline. Siculiana is known as the City of Newlyweds because it is considered a lucky place for wedding ceremonies, due to an ancient tradition linked to the blessed and fruitful union, in 1311, between Costanza, the only daughter of Federico di Chiaramonte, and Brancaleone Doria, a noble Genoese who later became the Governor of Sardinia. Within the Mother Church or Sanctuary of the Holy Crucifix, edified in Sicilian baroque style, there is a magnificent crucifix of a black Christ to whom a solemn festivity is dedicated in the first week of May. It is said that, in about 1600, whilst being transported to the nearby town of Burgio, during a short stop in the vicinities of the Castle of Chiaramonte, a blind man touched the coffin in which the crucifix had been laid for the journey and miraculously regained his sight. The inhabitants of Siculiana engaged in a battle with Burgio in order gain the right to keep the crucifix in Siculiana in commemoration of the miracle.

Close to the Castle is MeTe (Ethno-history Museum and Cultural Center) where you can admire exhibits demonstrating historical aspects of rural life such as utensils, photographs and mementoes of Garibaldi’s doctor, Dr Giuseppe Basile. Interesting guided excursions further illustrate the history of the surrounding area, believed to be the ancient Erbesso, the famous granary of Akragas.

he street descending beside the Mother Church offers a stunning view of Palazzo Agnello, a historic building once owned by one of the most prominent families in the Agrigento area: a family with a captivating past.
At the end of the 18th century, the main branch of the Agnello family -holders of the titles Baron of Sagneferi and Lorito- settled in Siculiana, the heart of a remarkably fertile region. Stefano Agnello, son of Baron Francesco of Cefalù, fell in love with and married Caterina Alfani, a wealthy landowner from Siculiana. From their union, Nicolò Agnello was born in 1815—the father of Francesco Agnello, the family’s last baron. Francesco spent most of his life in the baronial palace of Siculiana, overseeing one of the largest and most productive estates on Sicily’s southern coast: the Feudo di Fauma, renowned for its wine, grains, honey, and above all, its exceptional extra virgin olive oil.

A narrow lane, just beside Palazzo Agnello, leads visitors to the Arab Arch—another fascinating attraction waiting to be discovered. According to several scholars, Siculiana dates back to the 10th century, when the Arabs established the village of Suq-al-Jani (“Market of Giovanni”), dominated by a fortress that was among the last eleven castles to resist the assaults of Roger the Norman, before being destroyed following the surrender of Agrigento in 1087. Remnants of that early settlement can still be seen in the town’s layout, with its winding alleys, courtyards, and pointed arches—such as the Arab Arch of Via Finestre, recently restored and now home to “Ricordi Rughe Radici”, a photographic exhibition by Salvatore Guarragi.

The territory of Siculiana extends to the coast and includes the magnificent Nature Reserve of Torre Salsa, run by the WWF, and Siculiana Marina, a charming hamlet with a lovely beachfront.