Alcara li Fusi

Alcara li Fusi (Zip Code 98070) is 229 km. distant from Agrigento, 185 km. from Caltanissetta, 142 km. from Catania, 144 km. from Enna, 134 km. from Messina, which province it belongs to, 156 km. from Palermo, 245 km. from Ragusa, 199 km. from Siracusa, 256 km. from Trapani.

The municipality has 2.962 inhabitants and an area of 6.236 hectares for a density of population of 47 inhabitants per square kilometre.

It rises on hilly area and is 398 metres above sea-level.

The Town Hall is placed in piazza Municipio, tel. ++39 941 793010 fax. ++39 941 793406. E-mail address is: alcara@legasi.it.

It is mainly an agricultural centre; main cultures are cereals, fruit, olives, citrus fruit, hazel-nuts and legumes.

It is also recorded the presence of cattle, goatish, pig and horse breedings.

The name of Alcara li Fusi derives from Arabic Al-Qarah that means the quarter while the appositive li Fusi is due to the production of spindles which is typical in this zone. In fact they were used to spin wool, cotton and hemp.

There are not many historical testimonies about the little town, even if we know that in 1072 the Earl Ruggero gave it to the Bishop of Troina and from 1090 to 1812 it was a possession of Bishops of Messina.

The most important monuments are: the tower of Castello Turio (Turio castle) of Arabic origin, Church Mother of Maria SS. Assunta, the Church di S. Pantaleone that conserve a splendid cinquecento Table and a Our Lady of Catena, the Church del Rogato, where conserve a valuable Byzantine painting, the Church del Calvario and del Rosario, the fountain Abate, Baroque building from which gushes out cool water.

Besides are very suggestive the Grotte del Lauro (Grottoes of Lauro) for its favolous stalactites and stalagmites.

Characteristic is the "Festa del Muzzuni", that is of fragments of pottery, which takes place on 24 June and it is so called because some fragments of amphorae, adorned with necklaces and ears of wheat, are put on the little altars that are prepared in the squares.

During the festival, which lasts until the night, people sing, drink and embark engagements.