Alcamo (; ) is the fourth-largest town and municipality of the Province of Trapani, Sicily, with a population of 44,925 inhabitants. It is in the north-west of the island, on the border of the Metropolitan City of Palermo, about from Palermo and Trapani.

The current municipality covers an area of and it is the second most densely populated in the province of Trapani, after Erice.

Alcamo is bounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea on the north, Balestrate and Partinico on the east, Camporeale on the south and Calatafimi-Segesta and Castellammare del Golfo on the west. Its main hamlet is Alcamo Marina, about from the town centre.

Together with other municipalities is a participant in the , the movement, the project, and Patto Territoriale Golfo di Castellammare.

The average annual temperature is , with higher temperatures in August () and lower ones in February ().

thumb|Part of the beach of [[Alcamo Marina in summer]]

thumb|The countryside around Alcamo in spring

thumb|One of the rare snowfalls in Alcamo (8 January 1981)

;Seismic classification: zone 2 (medium-high seismicity), Ordinance PCM 3274 (20 March 2003)

;Climatic classification: zone B, 1140 degree day

;Köppen climatic classification: CSa According to some scholars, it is derived from caccamu, a dialectal word referring to the plant Citrullus colocynthis.

Prehistory

Though there is little information about it, there are evidences that territory of Alcamo was inhabited in prehistoric times; in one of the most ancient sites, near Molinello (a country district), remains have been discovered dating back to the Mesolithic, approximately , An axe from the Neolithic is kept at the Museo archeologico regionale Paolo Orsi of Syracuse.

Longuro and Longarico

Lycophron describes an inhabited centre called "Longuro" on Mount Bonifato. Supposedly, this settlement was founded by Greeks who had escaped from the destruction of the town of Troy.

During the Roman period, the inhabitants of Longuro moved to Longaricum at the foot of the mountain to farm the surrounding area.

It is possible that the two hillocks appearing on the gonfalon of Alcamo represent the two towns of Longaricum and Longuro.

Origins

The first document mentioning Alcamo dates from 1154, in a paper written by the Berber geographer Idrisi, who was given this task by Roger II of Sicily in order to get a collection of geographic maps. From over a mile away, the writer describes the position of Alcamo viewed from the Castle of Calatubo (visible today from the town) and defines it as a hamlet or a group of houses with rich soil and a flourishing market. but a series of revolts between 1221 and 1243 led Frederick II to move most of the population to a colony at Lucera, while Christians from Bonifato came to inhabit the town. The poet Ciullo or Cielo d'Alcamo was born in the town.

In 1340 Raimondo Peralta acquired the feud and barony of Alcamo from Peter II of Aragon. The barony passed to his son Guglielmo Peralta Sclafani, called "Guglielmone", During this period, Antonello da Messina moved to Alcamo for three years (around 1438–1441) to learn tanning techniques from the tanner master Guglielmo Adragna di Alcamo; There was a considerable wheat and wine trade with nearby towns, with artisans such as bakers, blacksmiths, tanners and weavers.

Modern age

thumb|upright|Porta Palermo in a print of 1900

Around 1500, Alcamo was under the jurisdiction of captain of justice Ferdinando Vega, who fought against raiding Turkish pirates. The town was surrounded by defensive embattled walls provided with four gates:

  • Porta Palermo (afterwards called Porta Saccari), at the end of the present Via Rossotti;
  • Porta Corleone, at the end of the present Via Commendatore Navarra;
  • Porta di Gesù, opposite the church of Saint Mary of Jesus, next to the Franciscan friary;
  • Porta Trapani (later called Porta del Collegio), at the beginning of Via Commendatore Navarra.

During this period, the town was divided into four-quarters, each one associated with the name of the main church in its area:

  • San Giacomo de la Spada
  • San Calogero
  • San Francesco d'Assisi (or "Terra nuova")
  • Maggiore Chiesa.

The division between these quarters coincided with the main streets of the town, now the present Corso 6 Aprile and Via Rossotti and its continuation Via dei Baroni Emanuele di San Giuseppe (called incorrectly "Via Barone di San Giuseppe").

In the late 16th century, the population was decimated by an infectious disease. The victims were buried in the cemetery of Saint Ippolito.

In 1667 Mariano Ballo ordered the construction of a theatre, called "teatro Ferrigno". It was later demolished, but rebuilt during the 1960s when it was named "cine-teatro Euro", later "Teatro Cielo d'Alcamo".

thumb|upright|Map of Alcamo in a painting of 1725

During the 18th century, pestilence and popular rebellions occurred in Alcamo again.

Between 1752 and 1780, Ignazio De Blasi, an Alcamese nobleman, wrote the first book on Alcamo's history, entitled .

The population of the town gradually recovered from earlier pestilence and had increased to 13,000 by 1798. In 1829 many people died of cholera.]]

At the end of the 19th century, in 1897, public lighting was inaugurated in Alcamo during the traditional feast of Our Lady of Miracles. Giuseppe Rizzo, a priest, founded the "Cassa Rurale e Artigiana Don Rizzo" bank in 1902.

At the beginning of the 20th century (1901–1911) the number of citizens in Alcamo diminished abruptly, partially because of the emigration of a recorded 36,718 Sicilians abroad, in particular to the United States, although an unreliable census makes the figure questionable. In the same period cultivation in the territory of Alcamo were affected by phylloxera, and two banks ("Cooperativa" and "Segestana") went bankrupt with subsequent economic difficulties for its citizens.

Events linked to the Mafia, such as the murder of Gaspare Cottone, a carter (1899)

thumb|The entrance to Società Generale Elettrica della Sicilia (SGES) in Alcamo (in the '40s)

The foundation of Società Elettrotecnica Palermitana, whose name was changed to Società Generale Electrica della Sicilia (SGES), which installed an electric workroom in the district of Saint Augustine in Alcamo, dates back to the 1920s. The visit marked the inauguration of the railway line between Trapani and Alcamo, completed in the same year. Some weeks later, prince Umberto visited Alcamo.

thumb|The [[Church of Jesus Christ the Redeemer (Alcamo)|Church of Jesus Christ the Redeemer]]

While the crimes of the Mafia went on and tens of people disappeared as victims of "lupara bianca", there was a religious revival which led to the birth of several Catholic associations such as Rinnovamento nello Spirito Santo, Neocatechumenal Way and the movement of Comunione e Liberazione. From the latter came the parish community of the Church of Jesus Christ the Redeemer, originating in the district of Sant'Anna (2006).

Urban areas have been improved, including the restoration of Piazza Ciullo by the architect Gae Aulenti (1996) and the construction of an underground car park in Piazza Bagolino, together with the creation of the near suburban park San Francesco.

Environmentally, Alcamo has been considered an example to be followed for the results between 2010 and 2013 in the waste sorting (raccolta differenziata).

Coat of arms

thumb|upright=2|center|Stucco representing the coat of arms of Alcamo near Porta Palermo (1750)

The Coat of arms of Alcamo, used since the kingdom of Frederick II of Swabia, is a black flying Eagle, crowned by Gold in a Silver range, with three hills below and two Golden Oaks.

A sculpture of the coat of arms is on a side wall of the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, near Porta Palermo.

Main sights

Civil buildings

thumb|upright|The tower of [[Palazzo De Ballis]]

There are several historical civil buildings in Alcamo:

  • House of Ciullo d'Alcamo (3, Piazzetta Leopardi, near the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi)
  • Palazzo De Ballis (Via Mariano de Ballis): built in the 16th century with a square tower with battlements, adorned with a round arch that contains two windows, a double lancet and one triple lancet; it was probably designed in 1490 by Tommaso and Pietro Oddo It was located in the old district of San Vito and inside it there was the painting of Our Lady of Honey () dated 1300 and believed to be the oldest in Alcamo; this was later moved into the Saints Paul and Bartholomew's Church.
  • Ex Church of Saint James of the Sword (): built before 1529, it was enlarged between 1625 and 1636.

15th century

thumb|upright|Portal of the [[Church of St. Thomas, Alcamo|Church of Saint Thomas]]

  • Church of Saint Thomas (): the date of its construction is uncertain, probably the first half of the 15th century. It is faced by a great portal with geometrical decorations.
  • Church of Saint Mary of Jesus (): built in the 15th century and enlarged in 1762. It holds the body of the Blessed Arcangelo Placenza from Calatafimi.
  • Ex Church of Ex Church of Our Lady of Rescue (): built in the 15th century.
  • Church of Saint Vito (): it gave the name to the ancient district of San Vito and to the street where it is located. It was built before 1492 and, according to Ignazio de Blasi (a historian from Alcamo), it was founded by a member of the Confraternity of the Annunciation, together with a hospital for poor people next to it. It was restored in 1922 and again some decades ago; there is nothing old in it and today is used by Eastern Orthodox Church Christians.
  • Church of the Holy Spirit: quoted in a deed dated 1491, as it is affirmed by the historian Ignazio De Blasi. It is located next to the first cemetery, on the North side.

16th century

thumb|upright|The façade of [[Church of the Holy Saviour (Alcamo)|Church of the Holy Saviour]]

  • Church of the Holy Saviour ( or ""): built in the 14th century baroque style and rebuilt around the middle of the 15th century and again between 1690 and 1697. Inside there are pictures by Novelli dated to the mid-17th century.
  • Church of Saint Olivia (): built in 1533 and renovated in 1724. Inside there is a picture by Pietro Novelli on the main altar (Sacrificio della Messa dated 1639)
  • Church of the Holy Crucifix (or Saint Francis of Paola) (): built in 1550, and now the parish of Saint Francis of Paola
  • Church of the Annunciation (): built in the 14th century, and rebuilt in 16th and 17th centuries; collapsed in 1866
  • ex Church of Saint Nicholas from Bari (): built in 1430, demolished and rebuilt in 1558
  • Church of Saint Augustine: built 1589

17th century

thumb|The façade of [[Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption (Alcamo)|Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta in a photo of the early years of the 20th century]]

  • Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption was built during the 14th century and rebuilt in 1669; the present façade was added in 1786; the portal and the bell tower are the only remains of the original 14th century church. It is in the centre of the town, near Piazza Ciullo. The interior is tripartite and contains frescoes by Guglielmo Borremans. In the apse and side chapels there are works by Antonello Gagini, called "Madonna with the Saints Philip and James", Crucifix and Transit of the Virgin; In 2010 the Sacred Art Museum was opened: it contains many works from other churches. In the first chapel, there is a modern architectural work dedicated to Don Rizzo (founder of the homonymous bank), designed by the architect Paolo Portoghesi.
  • Church of Saint Francis from Assisi (): built 1224–1226, demolished and rebuilt between 1608 and 1648. Inside it there is a marble ancon, probably by Domenico Gagini, and two sculptures reproducing the Maddalena and Saint Mark, both ascribed to Antonello Gagini.
  • Church of Saints Paul and Bartholomew (): built between 1615 and 1689, it has characteristic baroque features and holds "Madonna del Miele" (made about the year 1300).
  • Church of Our Lady of Graces (): built in 1619 and enlarged between 1626 and 1636
  • Church of Saint Anne (): built 1630–1634
  • Church of Saint Peter ('): 19, Via Barone di san Giuseppe. It was built in 1367 and reconstructed in 1645–1649, then enlarged in 1742 after a design by Giovanni Biagio Amico, an architect. The artistic portal (1649) is on the main door. The roof collapsed during the 1968 Belice earthquake; it was rebuilt 20 years later, costing 300 millions lira from Genio Civile.
  • Church of the Saint Guardian Angel or Sheltered People ( or ): built 1647
  • Church of the Holy Family: built in the 16th century in Piazza Ciullo
  • ex Collegio dei Gesuiti ('): built in the 17th century; in the 18th century an arcade was added
  • Church of the College of Jesuits or Church of Jesus (' or ' ): built between 1684 and 1767
  • Church of Our Lady with a Chain ('): built in 1661, it hosts a portrait of Our Lady with a Chain, ascribed to Giuseppe Renda (18th century)
  • Ex Church of Saint Catherine of Monte di Pietà ('): in Corso 6 Aprile, at the corner of Via Barone di San Giuseppe. Its façade, with a simple portal, was made in 1608 and the painting of Saint Catherine of Alexandria (1621), by Giuseppe Carrera or Giacomo Lo Verde, is now kept at the Sacred Art Museum.

18th century

thumb|upright|The façade of the [[Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Alcamo]]

  • Saints Cosma and Damiano's Church (' or '): built in 1500 and rebuilt between 1721 and 1725. It has a baroque style and inside it there are two sculptures by Serpotta.
  • Badia Nuova ('), not to be confused with the homonymous Church, was built in 1531, demolished in 1699 and rebuilt in the first half of the 18th century. There is a picture by Pietro Novelli and some allegorical representations by Giacomo Serpotta.
  • Ex Church of Ecce Homo ('): built 1750
  • Church of Our Lady of the Rosary ('): built in 1660 and reconstructed in 1761

20th–21st centuries

  • Sanctuary of Most Holy Mary of the Height ('): built in 929 and reconstructed in the 20th century
  • Sanctuary of Maria Santissima del Fiume, on Strada Statale 113, just after Autostrada A29 junction Alcamo Ovest. Built in the 1920s, it is frequented by believers in May.
  • The small Church of the Most Holy Saviour: already known in 1379, last restored in 1942; its façade was rebuilt in gothic style
  • The small Church of Madonna del Riposo: built in 1656 and restored in 1939; located at the end of the homonymous street
  • Church of Saint Joseph the Worker ('): built in 1947
  • Church of the Holy Souls in Purgatory ('): built in 1813, demolished and rebuilt in 1958
  • Church of the Holy Heart ('): built in 1967
  • Church of Jesus Christ the Redeemer ('): built in 2006
  • Church of Madonna of the Good Thief

Military buildings

Military buildings in Alcamo include:

thumb|The [[Calatubo Castle by night]]

  • The Castle of the Counts of Modica (or "Castle of Alcamo"): probably built in the 14th or 15th century by the Peralta family and then completed by the feudatories Enrico and Federico Chiaromonte. In 1535 the emperor Charles V lodged there. It was a possession of the Cabreras and then of the Counts of Modica, until 1812. Later, during the Reign of Italy and until 1960, it was used as a prison. It has a rhomboidal shape, with four towers: two quadrangular at the corners and the other two are connected by curtains and are cylindrical. In each tower there were a torture room for prisoners, rooms for sentinels and for passing guest sovereigns. One of the particular characteristics of the castle is given by the thick walls which bound it and that in old times defended it from the enemies' attacks extremely well.
  • Castle of Ventimiglia: situated on the top of Mount Bonifato. It is a medieval castle and today there are only some parts of the walls, the primary tower and the dungeons. It took the name from Enrico Ventimiglia, who declared he had built it just for defence, though according to some interpretations, it would date back to a previous period.
  • The Calatubo Castle, outside the town but inside its territory and on the road leading to Palermo, is a fortress built in the early Middle Ages. The homonymous village of Calatubo stood nearby and its commerce was based on the exportation of cereals and millstones. In the same place there is an old necropolis dating back to the 6th century BC.
  • The watchtower located in the town centre, in Corso 6 Aprile, next to the Church of Saint Maria del Soccorso, opposite the Mother Church. Its construction dates back to 980 A.D. and is the oldest architectural work existing in Alcamo, in perfect preservation conditions. Later the tower was bought by the diocese (1400) and used as a bell tower for the near Mother Church which, at the time, didn't have one.
  • The archaeological site in Contrada Mulinello, where they have discovered finds dating back to the Mesolithic period; they discovered here the fossilized shell of a turtle, Geochelone sp, the Skeleton of a dwarf elephant, dating back to 260,000 years ago, They are seven kilometres far from Alcamo and next to the boundary with the territory of Castellammare del Golfo, a small town which shares this naturalistic attraction with Alcamo.

According to the narration given by Diodorus Siculus, they were created by the nymphs to favour Eracle's rest during his trip from Piloro to Erice. The most represented nationalities, according to the percentage on the total residing population, were: There are many paintings, sculptures and other works coming from the town churches, dating from the 13th century to the 20th.

  • Monument to Cielo d'Alcamo: the work, realized by the sculptor Mariano Cassarà, is a faithful representation of the scene of the famous Contrasto entitled "Rosa fresca aulentissima", written in 1240 by Cielo d'Alcamo, the first Italian poet who made use of lingua volgare. The two bronze statues represent the poet and his beloved; it is completed by the artistic fountain made with Travertine, and the coat of arms of Alcamo.
  • Regional Vinotek of Western Sicily: located inside the Castle of the Counts of Modica.

Media

There is a local radio, Radio Alcamo Centrale, which operates in the territory since 1976.

The oldest periodical in Alcamo is "Il Bonifato".

The networks in Alcamo are Alpa Uno (since 1976) and Video Sicilia (since 1987).

Music

thumb|Exhibition of the Choir "Mater Dei" inside the garden of [[Palazzo Rocca (Alcamo)|Palazzo Rocca]]

There are various musical associations in Alcamo:

  • the Premiato Complesso Bandistico "Città di Alcamo", which is the oldest band in the province of Trapani, was founded in 1880 . In the first years it was led by the baron Giuseppe Triolo di Sant'Anna.
  • The Associazione Amici della Musica (Association of Friends of Music), founded in 1986, organizes an annual season of classical and contemporary music concerts held in Alcamo and surrounding localities. Since 1998 it has run an annual singing competition open to young opera singers of all nationalities. In 2001 the association also established the international cultural prize known as "Vissi d'Arte-Città di Alcamo". An annual prize, the "Vissi d'Arte" is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to art and society.
  • The Associazione Jacopone da Todi, is a chorus founded in 1989: it has the objective of spreading the knowledge of holy art, in its different expressions; the director is Gaetano Stellino, a school teacher.
  • The Coro Mater Dei is a musical association born in 1998 and made up of about 30 members; it has held various concerts (especially during the Christmas holidays) in Alcamo and in the province of Trapani. The chorus master is Baldo Barone.
  • The Coro Francesca Adragna was founded in 2008 under the direction of the chorus master Maria Messana. It has a very varied repertory: arias from operettas, opera melodies, church music, Sicilian popular tunes and Neapolitan songs.

thumb|A live concert during XXI edition of the Summertime Blues Festival, in piazza Ciullo

Dance

There are different school dances in Alcamo, such as:

  • Whisky a Gogò: it has organized for 20 years the Concorso Nazionale coreografico Danzalcamo: Sara Renda, the ètoile at the Opéra National de Bordeaux, started his career as a dancer in this school.

Religious traditions and folklore

thumb|upright|The simulacrum of [[Madonna of the Miracles during a traditional procession]]

  • 19 March: celebration in honour of Saint Joseph (novena and procession)
  • Good Friday: procession of the Dead Jesus and Our Lady of Sorrow.
  • First Sunday after Easter: Feast of Jesus Christ the Redeemer (cultural and religious event).
  • Second Sunday after Easter: celebration in honour of Saint Francis of Paola (cultural and religious event).
  • Third Sunday after Easter: Feast of Patrocinio in honour of the Holy Family (procession and lunch with the Holy Family).
  • 1 May: celebration in honour of Saint Joseph the Worker (novena and procession)
  • 13 June: celebration in honour of Saint Anthony of Padua (novena and procession)
  • 19–21 June: Celebration in honour of Maria Santissima dei Miracoli (Saint Mary of Miracles, the patron saint of Alcamo): cultural and religious events. During the feast there are a solemn procession of the Madonna's simulacrum, fireworks from the "bastione" in Piazza Bagolino and the descent of civil and political authorities to the Sanctuary of Madonna of Miracles. In the past (until 8–10 years ago) there were horse races along Corso 6 Aprile; the last two times they took place in Viale Italia.
  • End of July: Saint Anne's feast with novena, procession and cultural-recreational activities.
  • 8 September (Nativity of Mary): celebrations at the Sanctuary of Most Holy Mary of the Height (Madonna dell'Alto) on the top of Mount Bonifato with dialect poems recitation and procession.
  • 7–8 December: celebration in honour of Immacolata Concezione (the Immaculate Conception): novena, pastoral melodies and procession.
  • Alcamo Christmas (concerts, outdoor performances, preparation of traditional Christmas cribs and pipers' passing).

Recreational activities

  • July–August: Alcamo Estate ("sagras" or festivals, "Calici di Stelle", "Blues Festival", "Festival di Nuove Impressioni")
  • July–August: Concorso Nazionale Coreografico Danzalcamo
  • Second half of August: "Alcart – legalità e cultura" (Legality and Culture) a series of events (exhibitions, seminars, music, theatre etc.).
  • October: Concorso Internazionale per Cantanti Lirici “Città di Alcamo”, organized since 1998 by the Associazione Amici della Musica of Alcamo.
  • Second or third week-end of December: Cortiamo – International Contest of short films organized since 2006 by "Segni Nuovi" (a club of cinematographic culture within the Church of the Saints Paul and Bartholomew).

Sport events

  • 2–6 January: International Costa Gaia Trophy (youth soccer tournament).
  • European lightweight title (professional boxing) was contested in Alcamo on 14 August 1991. Defending champion Antonio Renzo (from Calabria) stopped British challenger Paul Charters in the 11th round.

Local market

The local market in Alcamo (called "mercatino") takes place every Wednesday morning in Via Tre Santi, near Viale Italia.

Cuisine

thumb|upright|"Mustazzola" (in front) and "cuddureddi" (behind)

Some specialities of cuisine of Alcamo are:

  • Handmade maccheroni
  • Pasta con le sarde: Pasta with "finocchi and sarde" (wild fennel and sardines)
  • Sausages with cavuliceddi (a typical Alcamo vegetable)
  • Dried filled tomatoes
  • Cuddureddi (Christmas fig sweets)
  • Tetù (mixed spice chocolate biscuits)
  • Sciù (cream sweets)
  • Muffulette (A bread roll with ricotta or other fillings)

People

thumb|upright|Marble bust of [[Cielo d'Alcamo inside Villa Giulia]]

thumb|upright|A bust of Don Giuseppe Rizzo, kept inside the Civic Library of Alcamo

  • Cielo d'Alcamo (13th century), poet
  • Arcangelo Placenza from Calatafimi (1390–1460), presbyter and Franciscan friar
  • Sebastiano Bagolino (1560–1604), poet and painter
  • Nino Navarra (poet) (1885–1917) poet, writer, gold medal for his military value
  • Vito Fazio Allmayer (1885–1958), philosopher, pedagogist and university teacher
  • Pietro Montana (1890–1978), sculptor, painter and teacher
  • Peter H. Ruvolo (1895–1943), lawyer and politician
  • Gaspare Canino (1900–1977), puppeteer
  • Nicola Rubino (1905–1984), sculptor and painter
  • Vincenzo Regina (1910–2009), historian, presbyter
  • Salvatore Asta (1915–2004), Catholic archbishop and diplomat
  • Gino Patti (1925–1993), painter
  • Ludovico Corrao (1927–2011), politician and senator
  • Turi Simeti (1929–2021), painter
  • Carlo Cataldo (1933–2021), historian and poet
  • Vincenza Bono Parrino (1942), Minister of Cultural and Environmental Heritage in De Mita's government and teacher
  • Giacomo Romano Davare (1945), writer, stage director and teacher.\
  • Gisella Giovenco (Ferrara, 1946) painter, stylist and publicist
  • Franca Viola (1947), the first Italian woman who refused the repairing wedding
  • Antonino Raspanti (1959), Catholic bishop
  • Benedetto Lo Monaco (1960), actor
  • Vito Bongiorno (1963), painter
  • Calandra & Calandra (Maurizio 1960, Giuseppe 1969), Folk singers
  • Christian Rocca (1968), journalist and writer
  • Stefano La Colla, tenor
  • Domenico Piccichè (1970), pianist and teacher
  • Ignazio Corrao (1984), politician and eurosceptic eurodeputy
  • Sara Renda (1991), singer at the Opéra National de Bordeaux

Economy

thumb|An oil mill in Alcamo (Antico Frantoio Vallone)

thumb|The stone quarry in Piano Santa Maria (1953)

Alcamo is one of the most important centres in Sicily for wine production, especially Bianco Alcamo D.O.C., produced from vineyards in the western Sicilian Val di Mazara wine region, using espalier or "tendone" structures and using white common or bright catarratto vines, eventually associated with damaschino, grecanico and trebbiano.