CAPACI

 

Capaci is a town of about 9,500 inhabitants, located in the Palermo province at some 50 m asl.

It stretches across a triangular area with its top angle facing the western slopes of the Mount Raffo Rosso; on the opposite side is the Thyrrenian Sea marked by the Isola delle Femmine.

The area is marked by numerous mountains, their lower slopes rising closest to the shore.

The discovery of remains of ancient weapons across the area attests to the presence of Paleolithic settlements, notably in the Pizzo Muletta district. A proper town was founded in the early 1500s, when Francesco Bologna was granted the title of Baron of the Capaci fief. It was him who had the castle and a tower built, around which the earliest settlements started to develop.

The town then passed to the Pilo family, who graced the town with various monuments while developing its economy at the day mainly relying on fishing – still important today although

farming and a growing tourism have become the town’s main industries.

Capaci is scattered with several interesting buildings, such as the 1700’s Chiesa Madre, dedicated to Sant’Erasmo, built under the Pilo rule on the ruins of an old building. Complete with a large stairway, it has a rather austere façade with three doorways and is divided into nave and aisles.  Its interior preserves various works of art such as a statue of St. Joseph and a 1800’s Immacolata’s, and vault frescoes illustrating biblical events among which are The Assumption of Mary and The Incoronation and the Gloria degli Angeli e dei Santi.

The 1700’s Chiesa di San Rocco, recently restored, is also worth-seeing.