Resuttano
Resuttano: among the Sicilian hills
Resuttano is a hilly municipality in Sicily, belonging to the free municipal consortium of Caltanissetta. With its 1,755 inhabitants, Resuttano is bordering the municipalities of Alimena, Blufi, Bompietro, Petralia Sottana, and Santa Caterina Villarmosa. Although the Nissenian exclave belongs to the metropolitan city of Palermo, it only has one fraction attached to the province of Caltanissetta, Ciolino.
Physical geography
The town is mainly located on hilly terrain, in the northern part of the province of Palermo. It sits 600 meters above sea level, west of the Salso river, 106 km from Agrigento, 34 km from Caltanissetta, and 53 km from Enna.
Origin of the name
The toponym Resuttano is believed to derive from Rahàl-Suptanum, a fortified farm located downstream from the current town center. It is situated along the Imera River, where it is identified as the current Resuttano Castle.
History
Resuttano was influenced by Arab settlements. In the 14th century, it belonged to the Ventimiglia family, while in 1625, Giovanbattista Romano Colonna and Ventimiglia Maniaci were its owners. Finally, Giuseppe di Napoli, Duke of Campobello di Mazara and lord of Alessandria della Rocca, bought the barony of Resuttano on behalf of his son Gerolamo. This is how the settlement of Resuttano was born on June 7, 1627. The population, of Madonie origins, settled around the Di Napoli farm. On February 13, 1628, the first church was blessed by Father Paolo Calabria.
The residents of the town lived on limited agricultural and artisanal resources. This situation led to numerous famines and plagues, with the town having only 404 inhabitants divided into 115 families. Only in 1812 did feudalism end, and the nobility disappeared, and the large estates quickly dissolved in favor of the small provincial nobility and the ancient Gabellotto. In 1818, Resuttano became part of the province of Caltanissetta.
Symbols
Resuttano has a coat of arms and a gonfalon granted by the decree of the President of the Republic on September 26, 1972. The gonfalon is a flag divided into yellow and blue.
Monuments and places of interest
Resuttano Castle stands among the hill slopes and attracts the attention of tourists and history lovers. The Mother Church, built in the 18th century, is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and is located in Roosevelt square. Characterized by a simple facade, it has two bell towers on the sides and a window supported by Ionic columns in the center. The Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, instead, houses the statue of the Madonna Addolorata, highly revered by the residents, whose feast is celebrated on September 15.
Society
Demographic evolution
Over the years, the population of Resuttano has remained stable, with a slight increase due to the birth of new families and the arrival of new residents.
Culture
Events
Resuttano celebrates two important events annually. On March 19, Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the town, is celebrated, while on May 4, the feast of the patron saint of Resuttano, the S.S. Crocifisso is celebrated.
In conclusion, Resuttano is a small Sicilian town that still preserves traces of its ancient Arab and feudal history. Its hilly position and the presence of monuments and places of interest make the town a destination for tourists and visitors from all over Italy.
