| Raffadali | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms  | ||
| State | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Sicily | |
| Territory | From Agrigento | |
| Altitude | 420 m a.s.l. | |
| Inhabitants | 12.550 (2019) | |
| Prefix tel | 39 0922 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 92015 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | Sant'Aliva | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Raffadali is a country of Sicily in the province of Agrigento.
To know
Raffadali is a middle center of the Agrigento hinterland, famous for the cultivation of almond and pistachio, which is the most widespread crop in the surrounding area, and whose ripening and harvesting period goes from the second half of July to the second half of September.
The town is located in the center of a large area, characterized by the presence of numerous municipalities, and boasts a centuries-old history that made it one of the major feudal centers of Sicily during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Geographical notes
Raffadali is located on limestone hills between the Platani and Salso rivers.
When to go
At the latitude of Raffadali the climate is good all year round. Avoiding January and February due to the cold weather, it is ideal for visiting the town all year round.
The best period goes from the end of February to the beginning of June, when the nature of the surrounding countryside gives its best as colors and scents, making a visit to this corner of Sicily special. Excellent September and October, still warm and bright.
Background
Its interest is constituted by the numerous necropolises in the surroundings.
Inhabited since the Neolithic period, the territory on which Raffadali stands, bears evidence of the various cultures that have populated it. Among the most famous archaeological discoveries, we remember the famous "virgins of Businè". Certain news about Raffadali begins from the Arab period, a time when there was a rich farmhouse called "Rahal-Afdal", that is, a very excellent farmhouse, renowned for the richness of agricultural production and the beauty of its position. Conquered by the Normans in 1095 Raffadali became a fief of the Montaperto family, in the territory of Raffadali there was the Saracen fortress of Guastanella which resisted the Norman conquest for a long time. Today's town was founded on the ruins of the ancient farmhouse. In 1507 Pietro Montaperto obtained from King Ferdinand the "jus populandi" for the expansion of the urban agglomeration, and began the consolidation works of the castle and the construction of the Mother Church. In 1649 Giuseppe Nicolò Montaperto intervened to suppress a revolt of the people of Agrigento against the bishop Trajna accused of forcing the population to starve. To reward the courage and loyalty of the Montaperto, Philip IV of Spain awarded the feudal family of Raffadali with the title of Prince, also elevating the fief to the rank of principality. The last lord of Raffadali was Salvatore Montaperto Valguarnera.
How to orient yourself
Raffadali: full screen map.| Relief of the Vestals |
 Relief of the Vestals It is a relief from the Roman period (dated to the 1st century AD) which presents a classic representation of offerings made by vestals. It was found in Raffadali and today it is exhibited at the Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum in Palermo |
How to get
By plane
The two airports best connected with Raffadali are those of Palermo and Trapani. More distant but with greater continental connections is Catania. Shuttle bus services connect Raffadali with Palermo.
- 1 Trapani-Birgi airport (Vincenzo Florio Airport), contrada Birgi, Trapani (It is 168 km from Raffadali. From the airport, follow the SS115 towards Agrigento (eastbound). Then take the SS118 for Raffadali.), ☎ 390923610111, @[email protected]. National and European flights, scheduled e low cost.
- 2 Palermo-Punta Raisi Airport (Falcone and Borsellino Airport) (it is 190 km from Raffadali. From the airport take the A29 towards Mazzara del Vallo, exit at Castelvetrano and follow the SS115 to Agrigento. Then take the SS118 for Raffadali.), ☎ 39 0917020273. National and international flights, too low cost.
- 3 Catania airport (Fontanarossa Airport) (177 km from Raffadali take the A19 and exit at Caltanissetta take the SS640 state road to Agrigento. Take the SS118 for Raffadali.), ☎ 39 0957239111. National, international and hub flights low cost and charter flights.
By car
The main road axis that crosses the municipal territory is the state road 118 Corleonese Agrigentina. The road crosses the urban center of Raffadali along via Porta Palermo, via Nazionale and Via Porta Agrigento.
You can get to Raffadali from Agrigento, along the 
, or from Palermo, along the 
and exiting at the junction for Villabate then following the 
finally turning to the .
On the train
The closest stations to Raffadali are the 4 Agrigento Central Station, in the center of Agrigento, and the 5 Agrigento Bassa station which is outside the center of Agrigento, in the lower part of the city just over a kilometer from the center, closer to Raffadali. Both are managed by RFI and connected with both Palermo that with Catania. Journey times are still long, check the timetables well.
By bus
There F.lli Camilleri company operates a bus service from Palermo to Raffadali.
How to get around
By bus
There F.lli Camilleri company connects with Palermo, with Aragon, Agrigento is St. Elizabeth.
What see
- 1 Church of Santa Oliva, Europe Square. Built starting from 1507 and dedicated to the Madonna of the Sick: the parish of Santa Oliva and the archpriesthood moved there in 1608, from the ancient mother church dedicated to Sant'Oliva, now disappeared. The Roman sarcophagus of Raffadali, in which the abduction of Proserpina is represented, and a sixteenth-century wooden statue of the Most Holy Mary of the Sick with Child.
- 2 Church of San Giuseppe, Via S. Giuseppe (next to the monastery of the collegine nuns). With an eighteenth-century façade and a façade dating back to the nineteenth century, attributed to the architect Saverio Bentivegna.
- Church of San Giacinto Giordano Ansalone. A recent church with a markedly modern style.
- 3 Church of Santa Maria del Rosario (church of the Rosary), Ascent Rosario. Church and convent of the Order of the Preaching Friars, founded by Niccolò Montaperto around 1540.
- 4 Palazzo Principe (Montaperto castle). formerly the residence of the princes of Montaperto. Built in the sixteenth century, starting from a previous construction of the fourteenth century, it subsequently suffered the destruction of three towers and battlements.
- City Palace. Seat of the municipality, on the facade of which is the city coat of arms. At the time of the Bourbon monarchy it housed a prison. Traces of this previous function remain in the toponymy, since the alley at the back of the building took the name of via carcere.
- Cozzo Buagimi (in the homonymous district). The place where the Arab fortress (castrum) of Bugami once stood. On the southern side of the hill, at the base of the rocky wall, a shelf extends from which fragments of Byzantine striated tiles, green glazed ceramic and achromatic ceramic have emerged. The clay fragments in black paint date from the Hellenistic period.
- 5 Cozzo Busunè. It is a hill located on the border between the municipality of Raffadali and Agrigento. Here a necropolis with oven tombs and two chamber tombs with stone and ceramic objects was found. There were also cave tombs from the ancient Eneolithic period, where the two Venus of Busonè were found in 1967 following an archaeological excavation campaign, preserved in the Regional Archaeological Museum of Agrigento.
- Cozzo Pietrarossa. Necropolis with oven tombs dating back to 4000 BC
- Colle di Palombara. Cave with ceramic fragments from the culture of Castelluccio.
- Caves. Late Roman and Byzantine necropolis (3rd-4th century) with arcosolium and niche tombs carved into the rock; the sarcophagus of Raffadali comes from the necropolis.
- Mount Guastanella. Necropolis and remains of an Arab castle (where the bishop of Agrigento, Ursone was imprisoned), destroyed by Frederick II of Swabia between 1221 and 1232.
Events and parties
| Date | Festivity | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and "maccu" festival | to Raffadali | |
What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
The typical dish of Raffadali is the macco di fave, a cream made with a prolonged cooking of dried broad beans, to which a vegetable is added, usually chard, wild fennel, green zucchini tender and served with only the dressing of extra virgin olive oil. of olive. The dishes based on Raffadali pistachio are also typical.
Moderate prices
- 1 Excelsior Bar and Pastry Shop, Via Porta Agrigento, 166, ☎ 39 0922473245. A bar and pastry shop where the quality of the products is excellent. Not to be missed.
Where stay
Safety
Pharmacies
- Bellomo Pharmacy, Via Nazionale.
- Gueli Pharmacy, Via Nazionale.
