Siculiana

Siculiana is a town and comune in the province of Agrigento, Sicily, southern Italy, 13 kilometres (8 mi) west of the provincial capital Agrigento. History According to some historians the name derives from the distortion of the Saracen Suq al Jani (John's market), while others believe its origin stems from the Arab Suqu 'l Yuni or Supu 'l Yunani (Market of the Greeks). The medieval hamlet of Siculiana was founded in 1310 by Frederick II Chiaramonte, who constructed a Castle, parts of which still exist today, on the ruins of the Arab fortress "Kalat Sugul", which had been destroyed in 1087 during the conquest of Sicily by Roger I of Sicily. Siculiana’s 13-kilometre (8 mi) long coast line is unspoiled and in the locality of Torre Salsa, a protected Regional Nature Reserve has been established due to its particular naturalistic and environmental interest. Siculiana Marina is the seaside extension of Siculiana; it is a renowned summer resort on the Strait of Sicily, once an important stop in the Mediterranean. The Port of Call (Scalo) of Siculiana Marina was historically an important commercial emporium. The Caricatore (Loading Dock) was still active up to the end of 19th century. Mafia In June 2008, the city council was dissolved because of Mafia infiltration. Mafia tradition is old in Siculiana. On a map, made in 1900 by one of the first Mafia researchers Antonio Cutrera, a former officer of public security, Siculiana is mentioned as ‘high density’ Mafia territory. A 1966 police report concluded that the town had been ruled by mafiosi for years. The Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan exploited every economic activity in the village and its surrounding communities. They had created an atmosphere of omertà: through violence and intimidation they made sure that nobody dared to denounce them. The Agrigento Court decided to ban them from the village. Demographic evolution Point of interest The Baroque Mother Church of San Leonardo Abate The Sanctuary of the SS. Crucifix (17th century) Notable people Alfonso Gagliano, a former Liberal Party politician and cabinet minister in Canada Nicola Gentile, a Sicilian mafioso and an organized crime figure in New York City Frank Sivero, an American character actor Alfonso Caruana, a reputed head of the Caruana-Cuntrera Mafia Clan References External links Media related to Siculiana at Wikimedia Commons