Gaggi

Gaggi (Zip Code 98030) is 250 km. distant from Agrigento, 184 km. from Caltanissetta, 68 km. from Catania, 155 km. from Enna, 52 km. from Messina, which province it belongs to, 293 km. from Palermo, 162 km. from Ragusa, 116 km. from Siracusa, 392 km. from Trapani.

The municipality has 2.729 inhabitants and an area of 734 hectares for a population density of 372 inhabitants per square kilometre. It rises on a hilly area along the coast and is 106 metres above sea-level.

The Town Hall is placed in viale Regione Margherita, tel. ++39 0942-47160 fax. ++39 0942-47703. E-mail address is: info@comune.gaggi.me.it.

Main economic activities are agriculture. Products mostly cultivated are olives, lemons, corn and wine-grapes. Recently it has been recorded an interesting increase in the agri-touristic field.

The name of the small town derives from Arabic Hagg and means "pilgrim". It has been changed in the Norman period into Scaggi and later into Kaggi and such it has remained till 1939. The village was founded by Muslims in the IX century and it was later dominated by Swabians-Normans.

During Norman domination it was given by Roger II to the Monastery of Savoca. Later, till 1639 has been a part of Taormina. Then it has belonged to some feudal families: Berriles, princes Branciforte of Scordia and to marquises De Spuches and it has been in their possession until 1760.

Important is the wide Nature reserve Valley of the Alcàntara which is nearby the small town.

It is very odd to know that the typical Sicilian surname is Caggeggi. It derives from Arabic Haggiag and means "The pilgrim of the Mecca". Gaggi is a town full of cultural ferments and it is famous above all for its amateur Festival of song "Alcantara News" and for patronal feast in honour of "St. Sebastiano.".