Calatafimi Segesta - Calatafimi Segesta

Calatafimi Segesta
Panorama
StateItaly
RegionSicily
TerritoryGulf of Castellammare
Altitude338 m a.s.l.
Inhabitants6.712 (2011)
Name inhabitantscalatafimesi
Prefix tel 39 0924
POSTAL CODE91013
PatronMost Holy Crucifix
Position
Map of Italy
Reddot.svg
Calatafimi Segesta
Institutional website

Calatafimi Segesta is a city of Sicilywestern historically important as it is the place where the Garibaldi's Thousand defeated the Bourbon troops in battle on May 15, 1860.

To know

The city takes its name from the Arabic Qal'at Fimi (Rocca di Eufemio): he was an officer of Byzantium which, according to an ancient tradition, favored the conquest of Sicily by the Saracens. Some scholars connect the name Calatafimi with Acesta, a contemporary town of Segesta, or with Castrum Phimes, from the name of a noble Segesta landowner, also named by Cicero. It was around the "Castle of Phimes" that the current town originated, and it is there that its oldest part is located.Calatafimi, with the Eufemio castle and its churches, is also characterized by the alleys and streets of clear Arab origin.At about 10 kilometers from Calatafimi is the archaeological area of Segesta, with the Greek temple and the ancient theater, where classical performances take place in summer.


How to orient yourself

Due to the particular geographical location of Calatafimi, many roads have a considerable slope. The Eufemio Castle and the church of SS. Crocifisso serve as excellent reference points as they are visible from different places in the city.As soon as you go up the Via Segesta (entrance to the town coming from the State Road 113), you arrive at Largo Duca degli Abruzzi which represents the right starting point for every exploration. The main road axis is Corso Garibaldi.From Via Marconi, an important artery that extends into Corso Vittorio Emanuele, you meet Piazza Plebiscito from which you can start an artistic journey through the town. Here we can admire the church of the Madonna di Giubino, the work of Giovan Biagio Amico from Trapani, next to the sixteenth-century church of the Benedictine monastery of Santa Caterina, and, on the other side of the square, the church of San Michele, with the Municipal Library to its right. Further on, along via Marconi, there is the Palazzo Comunale, between the Palazzo Pampalone, where Garibaldi rested after the battle of Pianto Romano, and the sixteenth-century church of San Giuliano. of this, piazza Nullo, At the end of the climb, you arrive at the Mother Church of San Silvestro Papa, and, continuing the climb, you reach the top of the hill (338 m asl) where the Eufemio castle stands. we find the medieval district of the Borgo, which preserves the original environmental characteristics intact within its narrow streets and courtyards.

How to get

By plane

Calatafimi is about 60 km fromPalermo-Punta Raisi "Falcone e Borsellino" airport and 54 km fromTrapani-Birgi "Vincenzo Florio" airport telephone 39 0923 842502.

From Palermo-Punta Raisi Airport it is possible to take advantage of the train that goes from Punta Raisi to the Alcamo railway station branch (which runs every 30 minutes) and from there take a taxi.

By car

Section of the A-29 motorway near Segesta
  • From Palermo - Through the A29 Palermo-Trapani motorway, Segesta exit, after passing the archaeological area of ​​Segesta, you enter the SS. 113, towards Trapani. The junction for Calatafimi is located about 3 Km.
  • From Trapani - Through the A 29 motorway, towards Palermo, exit for Segesta; you can, alternatively, take the S.S. 113 and take the crossroads after those for Vita and Pianto Romano.

On boat

On the train

  • Alcamo railway station Branch (About 9 km from the center, near the Alcamo Ovest exit of the A29 (Palermo-Mazara del Vallo motorway). It is located on the Palermo-Trapani railway line. 

By bus


How to get around

As the historic center of Calatafimi is quite small and the streets are not wide, there is no city bus service. It is very easy to walk as there is also difficulty in finding a parking space. For longer journeys it is necessary to use a car or a taxi.

By taxi

Taxi services:


What see

Pianto Romano, Battle of Calatafimi monument
  • 1 Roman crying, Colle Pianto Romano (On the state road 113 from Calatafimi towards Trapani about 3 km). The Ossuary of Pianto Romano, designed by E. Basile, was built in memory of the fallen in the famous battle between the Thousand and the Bourbons. It was inaugurated on May 15, 1892. From the top of the hill you can admire the splendid views in every direction. 
  • 2 Eufemio Castle. It is located on a hill overlooking the whole town. Perhaps it is a 12th century reconstruction. of an older castle, built for defensive purposes. Today a tower, some warehouses, the cells and the courtyard remain. 
  • 3 Doric temple of Segesta, archaeological area of ​​Segesta. Built between 430 and 420 BC. , 61 meters long by 26 wide, it is made up of 36 columns (in Doric style) left in their raw state as the temple was never completed. It also appears to be missing the roof: scholars disagree that it was deliberately designed this way. 
Temple of Segesta
  • 4 Greek amphitheater, archaeological area of ​​sSgesta. It is located on top of a hill and was built by the Greeks around 400 BC. It was discovered in the 19th century and classical performances (tragedies and comedies) are held in the summer months. 
  • Greek shrine, contrada Mango (S: P: for Segesta). Inside the archaeological area of ​​Segesta, there are the ruins of an ancient sanctuary, perhaps dating back to the sixth century BC. and built outside the urban center of Segesta. 
  • 5 mother church. It was built in the first half of the 13th century and dedicated to Pope San Silvestro, then rebuilt in 1547. It has three naves with Roman arches. The church is rich in stuccoes, paintings, marbles and wooden statues. 
  • 6 Church of the Most Holy Crucifix. It was built around 1750, based on a project by G.B. Friend. In the façade it presents a portal from the former Church of the Stigmata in Palermo. Inside there are frescoes by the painter Gianbecchina, stuccos and paintings from different periods. 
  • 7 Church of Maria SS. of the Giubino, Mazzini street. It is adjacent to the former Benedictine monastery and is a church of incomparable beauty. It was built on the project of Giovanni Biagio Amico and dedicated to the cult of the Madonna di Giubino, patron saint of Calatafimi. 
  • 8 Church of San Michele. It was founded by the Congregation of San Michele in the 14th century, and rebuilt by the Franciscan Third Order who enlarged the adjacent Convent. It has three naves and is full of stuccoes, paintings and wooden statues. 
  • 9 Sanctuary of Maria SS. by Giubino. It is located about 2 km from Calatafimi, on the northern side of the Tre Croce hill: it is a Marian sanctuary connected to the memory of the Blessed Archangel Placenza da Calatafimi and to the cult of Maria SS.ma di Giubino. 
  • 10 Path of the alleys. It is proposed as a journey into the history of the people: on the walls of these alleys you can see the feats of Garibaldi, the proverbs of the peasants and the multicolored ceramic butterflies or the holy water fonts. 
  • 11 Municipal Ethno-anthropological Museum, Mazzini street (At the former convent of San Francesco), ☎ 39 0924 951151, 39 0924-952696. Ecb copyright.svgFree entry. Simple icon time.svgThu-Sat 10: 00-14: 00, 15: 00-19: 00. It represents the historical memory and the purely agricultural vocation of the Calatafimese people; On display are tools, tools and objects almost forgotten, used in the fields, by artisans or in homes. 
  • 12 Garibaldi House-Museum, Via Guglielmo Marconi, 25. Ecb copyright.svgFree entry. Simple icon time.svgThu-Sat 10: 00-14: 00, 15: 00-19: 00. The construction dates back to around 1700 and recalls the Garibaldi epic: there are two marble tombstones on the façade and inside the building, one dated 16 May 1860, the other dates back to July 1862, both testify to the permanence of Garibaldi in Calatafimi and in the Casa Pampalone. On May 16, 1860, General Garibaldi proclaimed the victory over the Bourbon army by looking out from the balcony of this building. 
  • 13 Former Convent of San Francesco. It is thought that the original church, dedicated to St. James the Apostle, dates back to the 13th century. Today, on the east side, a walled window above a door remains, with columns and an archivolt from the 16th century. It was enlarged in 1544, and the interior was restored around 1750; contains paintings and wooden statues. 
  • Church of San Giuliano Martire. It overlooks Piazza Francesco Cangemi and is an ancient church, built as a parish in 1619. Outside it has a facade with a stained glass window with sacred motifs and a door framed by pilasters with Corinthian capitals, surmounted by a triangular pediment. Inside there are several wooden statues and paintings. 


Events and parties

Cart of the Borgesi class
Class of Mastranza on the march
  • 1 Feast of the SS. Crucifix, Church of SS. Crucifix. Simple icon time.svgMay 1-3 every five years. 
  • 2 Procession of the SS. Crucifix, Church of SS. Crucifix. Simple icon time.svgMay 3. 
  • Garibaldini day. Simple icon time.svgMay 15. 
  • 3 Corpus Christi procession, Piazza Plebiscito. Simple icon time.svgMid June. Interesting the church of San Michele. 
  • Procession of the Assumption. Simple icon time.svgAugust 15. 
  • 4 Feast of the Most Holy Child, via Facacciatura. Simple icon time.svg8 September (every 2 years). 
  • Procession Madonna del Giubino. Simple icon time.svgFourth Sunday of September. 
  • Procession of the Immaculate Conception. Simple icon time.svgDecember 8, night and day. 
  • Living Nativity, Li Ficareddi district. Simple icon time.svgDecember 25-January 6. 
  • Summer Calatafimese (from late July to early September). 
  • 5 Calatafimi Segesta Dionysian Festival, Greek theater of Segesta. Simple icon time.svgJuly August. Series of classical plays (theater) held in the summer. 


What to do

  • Municipal Library, Piazza Plebiscito, ☎ 39 0924 9505512. Simple icon time.svgMon-Fri 8: 30-14: 00; Tue 15: 30-18: 00. 
  • 1 Vivona stable (Breeding, riding school, pension), Contrada Pantano, ☎ 39 339 2878407. The riding school organizes trips and excursions on horseback. 
  • 2 Knights of the Castle Eufemio A.S.D (Amateur sports association), Contrada Barbaro S.P. 68 (Segesta Archaeological Area). The main activity is the training of new riding champions and putting them to the test through the competitions in which they participate. 
  • 3 Wood of Angimbè (northeast of Calatafimi). The Bosco di Angimbè extends north east of Calatafimi Segesta, towards the state road 113. The evergreen forests are an environment full of charm not only for the tree species present, such as the cork oak and the holm oak, but also for the remarkable richness of shrubs and herbaceous plants that appear in the undergrowth. To get there, you enter a dirt path that starts from the northern ring road of Calatafimi Segesta, winding halfway up the slopes of Monte Tre Croci. 
  • 4 Segesta thermal baths (Ponte Bagni, crossroads for Castellammare del Golfo on the S.S. 113). The establishment is equipped with three thermal pools and has three springs of sulphurous waters that flow naturally at a temperature of 44 ° and 46 ° C. There are two springs inside, while the third is outside. These are natural hot-humid sweat environments, where you can activate an effective and precious therapy. 


Shopping


How to have fun


Where to eat

Moderate prices

Average prices


Where stay

Average prices



Safety


How to keep in touch

Post office

  • 12 Italian post, Via Segesta, 2, ☎ 39 0924 954811. Simple icon time.svgMon-Fri 8: 30-13: 30, Sat 8: 30-12: 30. 

Internet

  • 13 The corner of Sport - Internet Point, Corso Garibaldi, 23, ☎ 39 0924 954367. 
  • Internet Point Azzarelli Giovanni, Piazza Nocito, 12, ☎ 39 0924 954319. 


Around

Useful information


Other projects

  • Collaborate on WikipediaWikipedia contains an entry concerning Calatafimi Segesta
  • Collaborate on CommonsCommons contains images or other files on Calatafimi Segesta
2-4 star.svgUsable : the article respects the characteristics of a draft but in addition it contains enough information to allow a short visit to the city. Use i correctly listing (the right type in the right sections).