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Located in the
Province:
Agrigento (AG) – Sicily - Italy
Year founded:
1638
Founded by:
Diego Tagliavia Aragona
Demographics
*:
-
Inhabitants are called :
-
Population :
12,934 (2004)
-
Area :
11,321
hectares, 119 meters above sea-level
-
Population Density :
116 people
per square kilometer
Patron Saint:
Feast Date:
Zip code:
92013
Phone Prefix:
(+39) 0925
City Hall
Address:
Via Mazzini, 1 – Sicily - Italy
Phone Number: (+39) 0925-70111
Fax:
(+39) 0925-70218
Website:
http://www.comune.menfi.ag.it/
E-mail:
comune@comune.menfi.ag.it
(This information was found at
http://sicilia.indettaglio.it/eng/comuni/ag/menfi/menfi.html)
A big agricultural center, Menfi boasts the
cultivation of various agriculture products, such as citrus
plantations, fruit, cereals, and vegetables. Cattle breeding and
sheep farms are quite developed. Local handicraft produces
typical objects made of the woven leaves of the palma nana (a
type of palm), and of wood. Charming are the hand embroidered
laces.
The original name was "Menfri", and in 1658 it
was changed into "Menfi" by the founder of the first urban
center, Diego Tagliavia Aragona prince of Castelvetrano. The
suburb was rebuilt over the ancient Arab farmhouse called
Burgimilluso. In 1968, the town experienced many damages caused
by the earthquake that devastated the Valle del Belice.
The principal monuments to remember are the
Chiesa Madre, XVIII century, partially destroyed by the
earthquake, and the Chiesa di Gesů e Maria, dated 1700, and its
astonishing high-reliefs. Relevant is also the XVII century
Palazzo Pignatelli, that preserves a fragment of the ancient
Castello Svevo.
A famous musician from Menfi was Antonio
Palminteri (1846-1915), who held the chair of Counterpoint and
Harmony at the Conservatorio di Milano, and composed two operas,
"Arrigo II" and "Amazělia".
Its major attractions are the remnants of a
Swabian Castle, now consisting of a polygonal tower, and the
1600’s Palazzo Pignatelli. In the city vicinity is Porto Palo, a
fishing village and a nice summer resort, that served as a
harbor for the Greek colony of Selinunte.
Many
Mangiaracina families can be traced back to Menfi. If you have
pictures or information on the town of Menfi and would like to
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