Burgio

Burgio (Sicilian: Burgiu) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Agrigento in the Italian region Sicily, located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of Palermo and about 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Agrigento. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,031 and an area of 42.2 square kilometres (16.3 sq mi). Burgio borders the following municipalities: Caltabellotta, Chiusa Sclafani, Lucca Sicula, Palazzo Adriano, Villafranca Sicula. History Burgio has a rich and ancient history. The exact date of the founding of Burgio is not known, however it is known that it already existed in the 14th century, when the inhabitants of the nearby Scirtea joined those of Burgio. In 1282 C.E., Burgio's mayor was among several mayors invited to the Sicilian parliament by Peter I of Aragon, King of Sicily. The first sultan of Burgio was Ali Bin Chema (King Amir, of the Idrisid dynasty), who left his kingdom in inheritance to Hamud. Hamud lost his kingdom in 1087 C.E. during the war against Roger I of Sicily. As a result, he was forced to surrender and leave the territory. Throughout the centuries, Burgio was ruled by lords and sultans who enriched it with royal palaces that remain well-preserved to this day, such as the Antioch, the Peralta, the Gioeni and the Colonna. Town Burgio is a city of historical interest, with a castle of Moorish origin that was conquested and restructured by the Normans. In the following centuries the castle was owned by several aristocratic families, among which the Peraltas, until it was acquired by the town municipality. Today, it is reduced to very miserable conditions. There are more than one hundred portals in stone, bronze bells and craftsmen work area, stained glasses windows, wrought iron and ceramics of ancient work and also, the forest of the Sicani, profuse, rich monuments of works of art and a museum of the Mummies; and on the background a majestic castle.The agriculture is characterized by the production of olives, grapes, almonds, citrus plantations, and other fruit. The home-made pastries from Burgio (cannoli - Sicilian pastries filled with cream) are typical. Very characteristic are the ceramics hand painted with the typical yellow and green color, the bronze bells, wooden objects, and embroideries. The city boasts well developed commercial businesses, notably the only foundry existing in Sicily, important for the production of bells and ceramics. Agriculture is as much important. Among the town's monuments, there is the Chiesa di San Vito (Church of Saint Vito), dated 1500, that beholds a statue of the homonymous Saint, the Chiesa di S. Giuseppe (Church of Saint Joseph), rich of paintings and plasters of the 17th century, and the Chiesa di S. Luca Evangelista (Church of Saint Luke the Evangelist), of the 14th century. Historically remarkable is the Arab Castle (or Tower), that has recently been restructured. Mother Church The Mother Church, Burgios main church, standing in the highest part of the town, keeps its medieval features. It is dedicated to St. Anthony the Abbot (the patron saint) and was built in the 12th century and restored in the 14th century. It has a splendid Renaissance external portal on the left side, with a valuable lunette niche where there is a statue of the Madonna with Child, surrounded by small saints. Inside the church, in the chapel dedicated to the Madonna of Trapani, you can admire a beautiful statue of Madonna with Child, made by Vincenzo Gagini (1527–1595). The walls of the building are entirely decorated with wonderful stuccoes, and there are also five statues by Orazio Ferraro (1573–1650). In the church there is also a big wooden Crucifix dated back to the 13th century. of great beauty is the view you can enjoy just off the church, looking to the valley below. Holy Week The Easter event is not episodic, but in a centuries-old tradition that expresses in a tangible way a radical attitude of the human spirit that reveals the identity of the people burgitano with its culture and its faith. The community of Burgio Church celebrates the mystery of the Cross and Resurrection through a variety of rituals and gestures that in addition to express an identity as a people, I express the attitudes of faith, hope and charity." The Holy week Burgio, is a mixture of feelings ranging from ritual to the passion and respecting the royalties of a centuries-old tradition has the privilege of turning into spectacle Rifesi On every second Sunday in August, from time immemorial, is the procession of Crucifix of Rifesi that the Cathedral Church is transported to the Sanctuary.The procession begins in the early morning and sees the heartfelt participation of the entire population of Burgio. The origins of this ancient rite are very linked to the deep devotion that binds the people of Burgio to Jesus carrying the Cross. The wooden statue, in fact, was first held at the Shrine of Rifesi and transported to Burgio in time of public calamity, only about granting the master of Rifesi. Whoever brought the crucifix to the Shrine were distributed slices of blessed bread. Legend of Rifesi The legend goes that a pastor, handed down from Burgio, carved the body of Christ on the Cross, then the arms, but could not in any way to sculpt the head. But an extraordinary event came to his aid: the head that he would have liked to sculpt was found near him and at the foot of a large oak. Happy for what happened,he attached the head to the rest of the body.This is the legend that is enriched with an episode that takes on the traits of miracle: the oak where the shepherd found the head of Christ was struck by lightning taken after the appearance of a cross. Famous people and films Among Burgio's most famous citizens is Giuseppe Ferlito who is an Italian director. One of his films, Doppio Petto, was filmed in Burgio with a cast of all citizens from Burgio and the nearby town of Villafranca Sicula. Also, the jurist Michele Majetti (1888–1958), author of Il codice dei minorenni e la difesa dell'infanzia (Code for the minors and the defense of childhood), and Venerable Andrea from Burgio (1705–1772), who was a missionary in Congo for a long period of time and is also a Saint figure to the people of Burgio even though he was never fully recognized as a Saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Demographic evolution References ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat. External links www.comune.burgio.ag.it/ site Burgio heritage site Burgio