Poggioreale
Discovering Poggioreale
Hi everyone, today I want to take you on a journey to discover a small town in Sicily, Poggioreale, which has around 1,300 inhabitants. The town is located in the Belice River Valley, about 150 meters above sea level.
History
Poggioreale has an ancient history, and it is believed that the Battle of Crimisso was fought here in 339 B.C. The name Poggioreale comes from the Latin "podus regalis", which means "Royal Hill". The town was founded as an agricultural center in 1642 by the Marquis of Gibellina, Francesco Morso, who was appointed Prince of Poggioreale in 1643.
Unfortunately, like many other cities in Sicily, Poggioreale was destroyed by the earthquake of Belice in 1968. Today, you can still see the ruins of the old city, nicknamed "The Ghost Town", but it has been rebuilt a few kilometers downstream with modern and futuristic structures.
Monuments and Places of Interest
Many tourists interested in the history of the location visit the ruins of the old city. Part of the visual story of the city of Poggioreale after the earthquake was told by the painter Guido Irosa through 34 canvases, which encompass the period from 2000 to 2005.
Don't miss the Municipal Library, where you can admire the ethno-anthropological museum of peasant life and some recovered artifacts from the Castellazzo mountain excavations. If you travel to the new center, I recommend visiting the new Elimo Square designed by Paolo Portoghesi and the chapel of Sant'Antonio, designed by Franco Purini.
Cinema
The ruins of Ancient Poggioreale have attracted film directors like Giuseppe Tornatore, who filmed some scenes from "Cinema Paradiso", "The Star Maker" and "Malena" there. Additionally, Poggioreale was also used for some shots in the series "La Piovra", "Cefalonia" and the film "La Guerra di Cam" by Laura Muscardin.
Society
Poggioreale is a small town with a very low population density and an economy mainly based on agriculture. Cereals, vegetables, olives, melons, grapes and fruits are grown. The Belice River Valley offers endless expanses of vineyards that produce excellent red grapes, in particular Nero d'Avola, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Administration
Below is a table related to the administrations that have followed in this municipality.
Notes
Related Articles
If you are interested in typical products of the area, don't miss "Belicino", a traditional Italian agro-food product.
For the history of the city, you can delve into the Belice earthquake of 1968.
Other Projects
You can find further information about the municipality of Poggioreale by visiting the official website (in Italian).
I recommend visiting this small town, rich in history and traditions. Maybe you can take the opportunity to taste the local cuisine and enjoy the beauty of the Belice Valley.
