Sant'Alfio

Sant'Alfio (Zip Code 95010) is 226 Km. distant from Agrigento, 260 Km. from Caltanissetta, 34 Km. from Catania, which is the province it belongs to, 131 Km. from Enna, 78 Km. from Messina, 266 Km. from Palermo, 138 Km. from Ragusa, 92 Km. from Siracusa, 365 Km. from Trapani.

Photo © Siciliafotografica.it

The municipality counts 1.670 inhabitants, its surface measures 2.362 hectares, and its population density counts 71 inhabitants per square kilometre. It rises over a hilly area, 550 meters above the sea-level.

The Town Hall is located in via Vittorio Emanuele n° 4, tel. ++39 095-968017 fax. ++39 095-968022. E-mail address is: salfio@dns.omnia.it.

Sant'Alfio boasts a rich production of wine grapes, fruit, walnuts, and honey. Goat farms and horse farms are flourishing.

The town's name derives from the cult, diffused throughout eastern Sicily, for the three saintly Gascon brothers, Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino, to whom the patronal feast is dedicated to, held on the first Sunday of May.

Initially it was a possession of the nobles Paternò Castello, and in 1869 half of the territory was divided among numerous owners, whereas the other half passed to the Chiesa di Viagrande. After belonging to the town of Giarre, Sant'Alfio achieved its communal autonomy in 1923.

Architecturally, the most interesting monument is the Chiesa Madre, that has a peculiar facade made of lava stone, preserving altars made precious by some alter pieces representing the three Patron Saints, the Chiesa del Calvario , and the Chiesa Nagazzeni.

Photo © Zimbone Antonio

It is possible to admire the multi-millenary "Castagno dei cento cavalli" (chestnut tree of the hundred horses), so called because related to a legend involving Queen Giovanna d'Angiò, who was attending a hunt beating, and found shelter from a violent storm under the majestic tree.

The chestnut tree's main trunk was burnt (but the imposing tree still exists) in 1923 by the inhabitants of Giarre, who refused accepting the separation of the suburb from their town. Every summer, Sant'Alfio celebrates the "Festa della Montagna" (Mountain's Feast), characterized by excursions, events, artistic and folklorist shows.