Aspra, Sicily

Aspra
Comune
Città di Bagheria

Fishing boats in Aspra

Coat of arms
Aspra

Location of Aspra in Italy

Coordinates: 38°05′N 13°30′E / 38.083°N 13.500°E / 38.083; 13.500Coordinates: 38°05′N 13°30′E / 38.083°N 13.500°E / 38.083; 13.500
Country Italy
Region Sicily
Province Palermo (PA)
Frazioni Aspra
Government
  Mayor Vincenzo Giuseppe Lo Meo
Area
  Total 29.68 km2 (11.46 sq mi)
Elevation 0-10 m (−30 ft)
Population (30 April 2009)3700 for Aspra
  Total 55,945
  Density 1,900/km2 (4,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Aspresi (Asparuoti in Sicilian)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 90010
Dialing code 091
Patron saint Maria S. Addolorata
Saint day September 14
Website Template:Http://www.ilgiornalediaspra.net

Aspra (Aspira in Sicilian) is a town in the comune of Bagheria in the Province of Palermo in Sicily, Italy.

A village within the municipality of Bagheria, approximately of 3700 inhabitants, by the sea at the East end of the Palermo's Gulf facing the capital city of Sicily. Typical are the wooden boats (lancitiedde in local dialect) vividly colored. The first traces of the town are thought to belong to the period of Arabic domination in Sicily, as it is suspected that the name comes from the Arabic حجر («stone»). Aspra was in fact, for generations, used to cave out blocks of calcarenite (light stone, of medium strength and easy to work in the big open sky caves locally called "pirriere"). The territory of Aspra goes from the Montagna d'Aspra, which is the name of the mountain near the town with the tops of Monte Irice (284 m.), Cozzo San Pietro (345 m.) and Cozzo Tondo. The mountain extends in a promontory (Capo Mongerbino). Continuing towards Esto est, passing Mongerbino, is possible to reach Porticello (locality of the town Santa Flavia). West Aspra ends following the profile of the river Eleuterio. Aspra was part of the land of the nobility of Marquis of Sant'Isidoro of which now remain a villa and the land of the Church of Aspra (originally his own private chapel but later donated to the town, the other portion of this is partially used as municipal offices). Notable are the affrescos by Renato Guttuso in the church, the seaside (lungomare), and "u rittufilu" (a straight road extending from the Corso Butera of Bagheria). Aspra was also the favourite retirement place of the poet Ignazio Buttitta and where the Italian aeronautical hero of WWII Francesco Tempra grew up. Fishing is the primary economic activity of the town, with local anchovies being exported worldwide.

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