Terrasini is right on the coast, and it is gorgeous. All my ancestors seem to have come from picturesque or unabashedly beautiful places - I often wonder how they could have borne to leave. The history of these beautiful places, however, is often unabashedly tragic, so leave they did.
A little more information about Terrasini...
Terrasini, Palermo Province, Sicily
Postal code 90049
Phone code 091
Location: 34 km from Palermo in the coast of the Gulf of Castellamare, on the west coast of the Punta Raise Promontory.
The municipality has 10.850 inhabitants and an area of 1.944 hectares for a density of population of 558 inhabitants per square kilometre. It rises on a flat area and is 25 metres above sea-level
(sicilia in dettaglio website)
Terrasini is two bays to the west of Palermo - here is a map .
This one is a map of Sicily - click on Palermo and you will get a more detailed map - it's this second map that will actually show you Terrasini.
You can click on the word "Terrasini" on the map and it will take you to a site with pictures and a little information about Terrasini - or access it directly here .
Here is another site with pictures: site 2
Economy: agriculture, mining, fishing, tourism
The agriculture produces citrus fruit, grapes, olives and almonds. Important is the fish production and various sorts of fish is fished so that it is always fresh. The handicraft produces the so-called quartare clay "amphorae". (sicilia in dettaglio website)
The old name of Terrasini was "Favarotta" that derives from Arabic Fawar and means "spring". The present name perhaps derives from Latin Terrae sinus because its territory defines on the west the Gulf of Castellammare.
[Alternative explanation: Terrasini probably got it's name because of the coast filled with caverns from Latin "terraesinus" - website - sicilian.net]
The first inhabited centre was built during Muslim period and enlarged under the Normans. In the Middle Ages the little feudal village was connected to the Monastery of St. Martino of Monreale. Later it became a property of La Grua Talamanca family until the complete abolition of feudal regime.
Among its monuments we count the sumptuous Cathedral Church (the Chiesa Matrice di Santa Maria delle Grazie, founded in 1684 and consecrated in 1749 - located in the main square of the town) and some towers typical of the XVIII century like Mulinazzo's, Alba's, and the Torre Capo rama. (sicilia in dettaglio website)
Terrasini is a summer holiday and bathing resort. Nearby there is a fully equipped tourist village with accommodations for 2,800 persons.
An unusual local event is the Festa degli schietti (Bachelors' Festival), an exhibition of masculine strength with tree-lifting trials. This takes place on Easter Saturday and Sunday, amid much merriment provided by music, singing and processions of Sicilian carts.
From another source [sicilia.terrasini.com]: The feast DI LI SCHIETTI, the only one of its kind, takes place on Easter Sunday: the unmarried men have to demonstrate their strength to the town girls by lifting an orange tree, weighing 50 kg, on one hand. It is a spectacle that attracts hundreds of tourists
What it is, is - a tree in a pot. The man has to carry it one-handed all the way to his girlfriend's house - if possible.
excerpted from "Sicily and Its Islands" as submitted by Grace Lancieri Olivo from COI and ITA-SICILY
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page last updated 11 September 2004
http://www.bestofsicily.com/history.htm
Nature, history, society
http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/sicily/history.html
Italy Heaven is a general site. This is a link to the history of Sicily.
http://www.initaly.com/regions/sicily/history.htm
Ditto the above
http://www.bartleby.com/65/si/Sicily.html
This is the Columbia Encyclopedia articly about Sicily
http://www.boglewood.com/sicily/home.html
Virtual history of Sicily - timeline with links
http://sicilia.indettaglio.it/eng/
lots of general information about Sicily (this is the English-language version of the site)
Back to Cusman home
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contact me at: lee@leesgenes.com
page last updated 11 September 2004