Ribera, Agrigento

Ribera
Comune
Comune di Ribera

Panorama of Ribera

Coat of arms
Ribera

Location of Ribera in Italy

Coordinates: 37°29′58″N 13°15′54″E / 37.49944°N 13.26500°E / 37.49944; 13.26500
Country Italy
Region Sicily
Province / Metropolitan city Agrigento (AG)
Frazioni Borgo Bonsignore, Seccagrande
Government
  Mayor Carmelo Pace
Area
  Total 118.67 km2 (45.82 sq mi)
Elevation 223 m (732 ft)
Population (31 December 2010)
  Total 19,601
  Density 170/km2 (430/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Riberesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 92016
Dialing code 0925
Patron saint St. Nicholas
Saint day December 6
Website Official website

Ribera (Sicilian: Rivela) is a comune in the province of Agrigento, Region of Sicily, southern Italy, between the Verdura and Magazzolo valleys in the so-called Plain of San Nicola.

The town is connected by the SS115 state road, leading from Trapani to Syracuse. The Platani River, the third Sicilian river, flows nearby. It has enormously contributed to developing both farming and tourism in the area. Its mouth has been designated as a natural reserve.

A Tower of Castello di Poggio Diana.

History

The comune probably rose on the site of the ancient Allava, to which the Byzantine necropolis near the modern town may possibly be attributed. In 1627, Luigi Guglielmo Moncada, Prince of Paternò, founded a new centre named after his wife, Maria Alfan di Ribera; the new centre developed rapidly, thanks to the fertility of the soil and the accessibility of the area.

It is the birthplace of Prime Minister Francesco Crispi.

Main sights

The Chiesa Madre, founded in the 18th century, facing the Piazza Duomo ("Cathedral Square"). The Town Hall (19th century) is in the same square. In Via Crispi is the house where Francesco Crispi, leader of the Italian government between 1887 and 1896, was born. The Garibaldi Garden offers a botanical itinerary.

Just outside the town, on a gorge overlooking the Verdura river is the Castello di Poggio Diana, built by Guglielmo Peralta in the 14th century. A Bronze Age necropolis (13th century BC) was discovered near the town. It includes some 30 tombs in two types, "chamber"- or "grotto"-like; some are preceded by a corridor up to 4 metres (13 ft) long.

Also outside the town is the Borgo Bonsignore, a village founded under Fascism as part of the "colonization" policy that encouraged the creation of new villages; it has now grown as a summer resort.

Economy

Agriculture is the comune's main industry, notably involved in the cultivation and marketing of the Washington navel orange – here introduced by emigrants returned from the United States – and strawberries. Such businesses are enhanced both by excellent climatic and environmental conditions and a supporting policy by the local authorities.

Twin towns

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ribera (Italy).


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.