Aragona

Aragona (Zip Code 92021) is 15 Km. distanty from Agrigento, the province it belongs to, 63 Km. from Caltanissetta, 201 Km. from Catania, 104 Km. from Enna, 265 Km. from Messina, 124 Km. from Palermo, 151 Km. from Ragusa, 232 Km. from Siracusa, 183 Km. from Trapani.

The municipality counts 10.267 inhabitants, its surface measures 7.443 hectares, and its population density is of 138 inhabitants per square kilometre.

It rises on a hilly area, 482 meters above the sea-level.

The Town Hall is located in via Roma, tel. ++39 0922-37777 fax. ++39 0922-36636. E-mail address is: info@comune.aragona.ag.it

The agriculture privileges the cultivation of almonds, olives, wheat, and pistachios, products exhibited in the typical town fairs during the months od September and October. Cattle breeding is also conspicuous.

It is interesting to remember that the suburb was given the name Aragona by its founder Count Baldassare Naselli from Comiso, in honor of his mother Beatrice Aragona Branciforti.

In 1615, Luigi Naselli was conferred the title of Prince of Aragona, by King Filippo IV. The noble Naselli family reigned the town until 1812, when the feudal rights were abolished.

Among other monuments, the Chiesa della Mercede, of 1623, and the nearby ex convent of the Padri Mercedari (Mercedari Priests); the baroque Chiesa del Purgatorio, preceded by its majestic staircase; and the Chiesa del Carmine of the XVIII century.

Also, the Chiesa Madre of the XVII century, that beholds a Creche dated 1700, with original full-size statues.

A singular volcanic phenomenon occurs near the town, in a vegetation-free area where small volcanos break from whitish mud, constantly exploding because of methane gas bubbles appearing on the surface.

The Arabs called this phenomenon "Macalube", which means alluring and astonishing to indicate this impressive natural spectacle.