FICARAZZI

Ficarazzi is a town of some 8,000 inhabitants located in the Palermo province at some 23m asl. It appears as a collection of picturesque brick or white coloured houses grouped around the Torre and surrounded by lemon and orange groves.

After hosting a Cretan community and successively a Punic one, the area of the modern day’s Ficarazzi followed the vicissitudes of the neighboring Misilmeri Barony, into which it was assimilated for a longtime. Later on, the holding was divided between the Ajutamicristo family and Vice-King Pietro Speciale, the latter contributing to establishing the sugar-cane cultivation in the area and undertaking the construction of the town Tower, that would become his residence. The Torre, dated 1458, was modified in the 18^th century by the Giardina family.

Among the town lords were the Theatine Fathers and, since 1733, when the city was properly founded, the Marquis Luigi Giardina de Guevara.

The Torre-Villa is the city’s main attraction. Notably, the addition of a wing, the entrance double staircase, some halls and front balconies, is due to the Giardinas, as above said. Following a number of ownership changes, the building passed to the Theatine nuns who opened a nursery school inside.

The aqueduct, built by Pietro Campo and supplying the sugar-cane plantation, is also of 1400’s origin. Its original structure, spanning the Eleuterio river, is preserved almost intact.

The 1700’s Chiesa Madre dedicated to Sant’Atanasio has a linear front and a simple interior with a single nave preserving some interesting works such as a 1500’s wooden Crucifix.