Ribera, Agrigento

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Stemma_filippo.jpg
official_name = Comune di Ribera
region = flagicon|Sicily Sicily
province = Agrigento (AG)
elevation_m = 223
area_total_km2 = 118.67
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 20193
population_density_km2 = 170.2
timezone =
coordinates =
frazioni =
telephone = 0925
postalcode = 92016
gentilic = Riberesi
saint = San Nicola
day = December 6
mayor =
website = [http://www.comune.ribera.ag.it/ http://www.comune.ribera.ag.it/]

Ribera is a comune in the province of Agrigento, Region of Sicily, the country of Italy.

The comune of Ribera is located in the province of Agrigento, at 223 metres above sea level between the Verdura and Magazzolo valleys; it stands in the so-called Plain of San Nicola, a former fiefdom that in the first half of the 1600s belonged to the Prince of Paternò Luigi Guglielmo Moncada. The Duke of Ferrandina Giuseppe di Toledo successively became the Lord of the town that would annex many of the lands in the surrounding area.

Agriculture is the comune's main industry, notably involved in the cultivation and marketing of the Washington navel orange – here introduced by emigrants returned from the United States – and strawberries. Such businesses are enhanced both by excellent climatic and environmental conditions and a supporting policy by the local authorities.

Ribera has much to offer both historically and artistically. Among its major attractions are the birthhome of statesman Francesco Crispi, the 1700s Mother Church and the 1800s Palazzo Municipale.

The comune surroundings are as much interesting. Only few kilometres away are the ruins of the 1300s Castle of Poggio Diana, consisting of a battlemented circular tower and a square one. Originally built by Guglielmo Peralta, the castle successively belonged to the Counts of Luna. It has a dominant position over the gorge dug by the Verdura River. A 13th century necropolis stands nearby, home to some thirty tombs.

Several close naturalistic sites are available for excursions. Among these is the Borgo Bonsignore, a village founded under Fascism – as part of the "colonization" policy that encouraged the creation of new villages – grown as a summer resort.

The Platani River, the third Sicilian river, flows nearby. It has enormously contributed to developing both farming and tourism in the area. Its mouth has been designated as a nature reserve.

Monuments

The Chiesa Madre, founded in the 18th c., looks out over Piazza Duomo. The Town Hall (19th c.) is in the same square. In Via Crispi is the house where Francesco Crispi, leader of the Italian government between 1887 and 1896, was born. The Garibaldi Garden offers a splendid botanical itinerary. Just outside the town is the Castello di Poggio Diana, built by Guglielmo Peralta in the 14th c. A Bronze Age necropolis (13th c. AD) was discovered near the town quite recently. Alfonso Campanella was also born in Ribera, on August 26, 1960.

History

The comune probably rose on the site of the ancient Allava, to which the Byzantine necropolis near the modern town may possibly be attributed. In 1627, Luigi Guglielmo Moncada, Prince of Paternò, founded a new centre named after his wife, Maria Alfan di Ribera; the new centre developed rapidly, thanks to the fertility of the soil and the accessibility of the area. The town is still very prosperous both economically and demographically.

External links

* [http://www.comune.ribera.ag.it/ Official Site]