Merì

Merì (Zip Code 98040) is 290 km. distant from Agrigento, 220 km. from Caltanissetta, 128 km. from Catania, 179 km. from Enna, 40 km. from Messina, which province it belongs to, 218 km. from Palermo, 216 km. from Ragusa, 186 km. from Siracusa, 317 km. from Trapani.

The municipality has 2.084 inhabitants and an area of 187 hectares for a population density of 1114 inhabitants per square kilometre. It rises along the coast on a hilly area and is 64 metres above sea-level.

The Town Hall is placed in via Maimone, tel. ++39 090-9763777 fax. ++39 090-9763945.

Main economic activities are agriculture and breeding. Products mostly cultivated are citrus fruit, vegetables, olives, grapes. Breedings present are cattle, pig and sheep ones.

The village derives its name from Medieval Latin Miriae that means "side". We have not many historical information about it but we know that it was founded in the XVI century.

The most interesting monument is the Parish church of SS. Annunziata which keeps inside a valuable painting painted by Antonio Catalano said the Elder (1560-1630).

Merì is the place where is the famous San Scutrufatu, an imaginary saint protector of slackers. It is made the following request for him: "San Scutrufatu, preia ppi li pultruna!" which means "St. Idler pray for slackers!" because they don't feel like even praying.