Ravanusa

Ravanusa (Zip Code 92029) is 58 Km. distant from Agrigento, the province it belongs to, 41 Km. from Caltanissetta, 167 Km. from Catania, 82 Km. from Enna, 270 Km. from Messina, 183 Km. from Palermo, 117 Km. from Ragusa, 198 Km. from Siracusa, 231 Km. from Trapani.

The municipality counts 14.969 inhabitants, its surface measures 4.958 hectares, and its population density is of 302 inhabitants per square kilometre.

It rises on an internal hilly area, 320 meters above the sea-level.

The Town Hall is located in via Roma, tel. ++39 0922-881511 fax. ++39 0922-880415. E-mail address is: biblioteca_ravanusa@hotmail.com.

Spread over a fertile slope, Ravanusa boasts a substantial production of the "Italia" variety of grapes, as well as must grapes, almonds, and olives. The town also has outstanding cattle breeding and sheep farms thanks to the numerous pasture areas. Characteristic is the handicraft work of wooden and wrought iron objects.

The name Ravenusa derives from the Byzantine Greek term Rafanusa, that means "rich of vegetables". The first center was founded by the Normans.

Subsequently, the town's barony was alternated among the noble Palmeri and Tagliavia families.

Approximately during the XV century, the suburb belonged to Lord Andrea Di Crescenzio, who was granted the concession to build a convent for the canonical Agostiniani of S. Giorgio.

The current inhabited center goes back to 1621 and it was founded with "licentia populandi" by the Duke of Montalbano Giacomo Bonanno. The feud belonged to the Bonanno family until 1812, when feudality was abolished.

Among the various monuments, outstanding are the XVII century Chiesa Madre dedicated to S. Giacomo Apostolo, the Chiesa di Santa Croce, and the Palazzo Sillitti erected during the XIX century.

A famous lawyer from Ravanusa was Giuseppe Lauricella (1873-1954), fervent socialist, promoter of the "Concordato tra i proprietari e i contadini di Ravanusa" (Agreement between owners and peasants of Ravanusa), in 1919. The same political ideology belonged to his son Salvatore (1922-1996) who, among other assignments, was nominated President of the Region of Sicily, for two legislatures.