Palma di Montechiaro
Palma di Montechiaro: a brief history of a beautiful Sicilian city
Palma di Montechiaro is an Italian municipality located in southern Sicily with just over 21,000 inhabitants. This city has a long history of human settlements dating back to the second millennium B.C., as evidenced by archaeological finds and numerous Sicilian tombs found in the area.
Ancient era
The Rhodian-Cretans, who inhabited the coast between Gela and Palma, built the fortified sites of Castellazzo and Piano del Vento in the 12th century B.C. to protect the territory.
The Antonine Itinerary mentions a "statio" called "Daedalium" between Akragas and Finziade, which is located in the Castellazzo district of Palma di Montechiaro.
Medieval era
The Chiaramonte Castle, located along the coast between Punta Bianca and the mouth of the Palma River, was built in 1353 by Federico Prefoglio and soon passed to the Chiaramonte family, who gave the city its name.
Modern era
Palma was founded on May 3, 1637 in the barony of Montechiaro by the twin brothers Carlo Tomasi, Barone Tomasi, and Giulio, but the real founder of the city was their uncle Mario Tomasi de Caro, inquisitor and governor of Licata. The city was built on an ideal orthogonal plan, as described in Giovanni Battista Hodierna's report.
Palma di Montechiaro is a city that boasts several architectural and natural beauties. These include the mother church, dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary, built in 1640 according to the design of a renowned architect of the time, the church of San Carlo Borromeo, dating back to the 18th century, and the Chiaramonte Castle. Furthermore, the city is located in a charming position, with its surroundings full of delightful gardens and abundant vineyards, crops and fruit trees.
The city of Palma di Montechiaro is located a few kilometers from Agrigento, famous for the Valley of the Temples. It is worth visiting the city for its history and beauty, as well as for its proximity to highly attractive tourist destinations.
