Cianciana

Cianciana is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Agrigento in the Italian region Sicily, located in the middle valley of the Platani river, about 70 kilometres (43 mi) south of Palermo and about 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest of Agrigento. The Monte Cammarata, elevation 1,579 metres (5,180 ft) above sea level, part of the Monti Sicani chain, is nearby.

An abandoned zolfara (sulfur mine) near Cianciana.

Cianciana borders the following municipalities: Alessandria della Rocca, Bivona, Cattolica Eraclea, Ribera, Sant'Angelo Muxaro.

History

The village is situated on the valley of the River Platani and is surrounded by the Sicani Mountains, and was originally inhabited the Cretans in the second millennium BC. Cianciana also was conquered by Greeks, Romans and Arabs.

According to local chronicles, a town known as La Ferla existed in the area in 1269. This was likely destroyed by an earthquake. Archaeological excavations have found traces of Roman temples and other constructions, including a "castle" called Casaletto di Chincana, whence the name given to the area in the feudal era of the Kingdom of Sicily.

Cianciana itself was founded on 4 October 1646 as Sant'Antonio di Cianciana, under the aegis of the Joppolo feudal family. In 1713 it had 2,303 inhabitants.

The center grew in importance after the discovery of the rich sulfur mines of the area, and the number of inhabitants reached 10,000 however after the sulfur mine closed in the early 1960s rapid emigration to England, France, Germany, the United States, Canada and other parts of the world dropped the population by more than half.

The town was featured on the UK Channel 4 show "Location" and, in 2012, it was featured on the American Home and Garden Network program, House Hunters International. Within the town there has been an increase in British and a growing multinational population buying homes. It is becoming a very popular town for expatriates with a growing number moving there permanently.

The British actor, Ray Winstone, bought a house in Cianciana in June 2012.

Demographic evolution

Monuments and places of interest

Cianciana and its territory, contains valuable evidence of its past and numerous places of interest as well as an artistic nature.

Religious architecture

There are several building for Catholic worship. The two buildings below no longer exist.

Church of the Blessed Sacrament (15th century). It was built between 1584 and 1608 in the feud between the current Cianciana C.so Vittorio Emanuele and Via Fidanza. After the construction of the Mother Church, it was used as a hall of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Today the original building no longer exists, but a new one is home to the Oratory Youth Don Gerlando Re.
Church of San Gaetano (18th century). It was built in the 18th century by the efforts of Father Felix Vincent Sedita near Mount Calvary. The church was demolished more than a century ago.

Churches

Holy Trinity Mother Church (17th century). The church was built by Baron Jerome Ficarra in 1640 and completed by the Joppa family. Originally it had a nave and in 1823 two aisles were added. The vault of the nave was frescoed by the painter Caramel De Simone in 1839.nside there are, among others, two works of art: the statue of St. Anthony of Padua, the famous sculptor Jerome Bagnasco and the statue of marble of the Madonna Free Sick of school Gagini. Attached to the church is the Chapel of the Blessed Lady of Sorrows and Holy Cross, built in 1741, which houses a large painting of Father Fedele Tirrito, The Deposition.
Carmine Church (18th century). The church has a small nave, with a facade that features a triple lancet window placed above the portal. The apse is decorated with small floral stucco and fresco painters of Galeoto and Farruggia .
Purgatory Church (18th century). The church is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory and located in the town centre next to the Clock Tower. It was built in 1716 . The building of neoclassical style, is characterised by a portal in the limestone above which contains a fake rose painting. It houses a valuable statue of the Risen Christ School of Bagnasco.
St. Anthony Church (17th century). The church was built by Prince Joppa was given to the Friars Minor, was opened for worship in 1866. It has adjoining rooms for a convent. The building is rectangular, has a single nave ending in an apse. The construction can be described as an example of Sicilian Baroque. The Church contains, in addition to fine wooden statues, a painting of St. Anthony of Padua, painted on wood and a large painting representing the Madonna apparel painted by Accursio Tower. In 1962, after nearly a century of shabby neglect, the church was reopened and erected as a parish.

References

↑ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.

External links

Sicily · Comuni of the Province of Agrigento

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