Borgo Petilia
Borgo Petilia: a turning point in history
Borgo Petilia is a hamlet located 6.5 km from the municipal capital of Caltanissetta. This hamlet was built during the fascist period to cope with the agro-pastoral ecosystem. It was one of the 9 rural villages designed in Sicily in 1939 as part of the "attack on Sicilian latifundia," a project known as the "Colonization Agency of Sicilian latifundia (ECLS)."
Construction
Borgo Petilia replaced the original Borgo Gattuso and was built by the company Muratori Riminesi for a cost of about 1,300,000 lire. However, the quality of the constructions turned out to be extremely poor due to the difficult availability of materials such as steel and cement during the war, as well as the project design characterized by the Autarchia.
The name
By Royal Decree of December 9, 1940, the hamlet was named after Gigino Gattuso, a squadrista killed in April 1921 during a clash between Fascists and Socialists. The name caused a stir and many wondered how it was possible to name the hamlet after an individual who had militated in the fascist regime. A few years later, the name was changed to Borgo Petilia, in reference to the Roman consul Lucio Petilio, who, according to tradition, would have played a role in the foundation of Caltanissetta and Delia.
The church
The church of Borgo Petilia was consecrated by Bishop Giovanni Jacono in 1940, shortly after the hamlet's inauguration. However, the ceremony was limited due to the war. The church, along with other structures, was built with low-quality materials, which resulted in rapid degradation of the constructions.
The situation after the War
After the war, Italy tried to erase elements that recalled the fascist past. In this context, Borgo Petilia was also subject to renovation, and the name was changed. However, despite this, the hamlet failed to assume a new identity, and many of the problems related to the construction of the hamlet remained unresolved.
Conclusions
Borgo Petilia represents an example of how Italian rural realities were managed during the fascist period. Despite the initial good intentions, the realization of the project was strongly conditioned by the difficulties related to the war and fascist action. This was reflected in the quality of the constructions, and over time, the situation did not improve. All of this, combined with the choice to name the hamlet after a "fascist martyr," shows how the story of Borgo Petilia was marked by many problems and contradictions. At the same time, this story draws attention to an often neglected aspect of our history and provides an opportunity to reflect on the difficult reality of rural life in Italy.
