Bisacquino
Welcome to Bisacquino, a small town in Sicily
Hello friends, today I want to talk to you about Bisacquino, a town of about 4159 inhabitants located in the metropolitan city of Palermo, Sicily. The town is located almost at the southernmost tip of the province and sits at the foot of Mount Triona, a limestone massif that reaches a height of 1,215 m above sea level.
The Physical Geography of Bisacquino
Bisacquino is easily accessible from Palermo and Sciacca thanks to two scenic roads, the Strada statale 188 Centro Occidentale Sicula and SS Strada statale 189 della Valle del Platani. The town extends over three distinct areas, and one of these, called San Biagio, is a provincial enclave of the Province of Agrigento, an administrative and geographical rarity in Sicily. Bisacquino is about 75 km from Palermo and 57 km from Sciacca.
The History of Bisacquino
The town was given to the Episcopal See of Monreale by the Norman king William II. Until the 12th century it belonged to various local lords and then came under the control of the archbishop of Monreale until 1778. Later, Bisacquino became a property of the royal domain. On May 18, 1897, the Italo-American director Frank Capra was born in the town.
Monuments and Places of Interest
Bisacquino is a town rich in religious architecture and places of interest. Among the main churches in the town, we find the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, a reconstruction of the sixteenth-century mother church built in 1716, inside of which the tomb of the venerable Monsignor Giovanni Bacile is kept. Other important churches include the Church of San Francesco Di Paola, the Church of the Capuchins, the Church of Maria Santissima delle Grazie, the Church of Santa Lucia, the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, the Church of the Madonna del Rosario, the Church of San Vito, the Church of Santa Maria del Gesù, the Church of the Carmine and the Carmelite convent, the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi, the Church of Santa Caterina da Siena, the Church of Calvary, the Sanctuary of Maria SS.Del Balzo, and many others. Bisacquino is also rich in chapels, including the Chapel of the Holy Souls, the Chapel of the Madonna of Trapani, the Chapel of the Madonna del Balzo, and the Chapel of San Pio.
Society and Administration of Bisacquino
In recent years, the town has experienced a demographic decline, but this has not prevented the community from maintaining its spirit of service, as demonstrated by the numerous associations present in the area. The administration of Bisacquino has seen the succession of several councils over the years.
Conclusion
Bisacquino is a town that has a lot to offer, from its strategic location to the richness of its historical and cultural sites. If you find yourself in Sicily, do not miss the opportunity to visit it and discover the beauty that lies hidden in its streets and churches.
