- Burgio
Infobox CityIT
img_coa =
official_name = Burgio
name = Burgio
region =Sicily
province =Province of Agrigento (AG)
elevation_m = 317
area_total_km2 = 42.2
population_as_of = Dec. 2004
population_total = 3031
population_density_km2 = 72
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|37|36|N|13|17|E|type:city(3,031)_region:IT
frazioni =
telephone = 0925
postalcode = 92010
gentilic = burgitani
saint =
day =
mayor =
website = [http://www.comune.burgio.ag.it/ www.comune.burgio.ag.it/]
mapy = 13.2833
mapx = 37.6000Burgio is a "
comune " (municipality) in theProvince of Agrigento in the Italian regionSicily , located about 60 km south ofPalermo and about 40 km northwest ofAgrigento . As of31 December 2004 , it had a population of 3,031 and an area of 42.2 km².All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical instituteIstat .]Burgio borders the following municipalities:
Caltabellotta ,Chiusa Sclafani ,Lucca Sicula ,Palazzo Adriano ,Villafranca Sicula .History of Burgio
Burgio has one the richest and ancient history. Surely it existed in the XIV century, when the inhabitants of the near Scirtea joined to those of Burgio. It existed, for certain, in the 1282, when Pietro d'Aragona, king of Sicily, invited to the Sicilian Parliament some Mayors and, among them, Burgio’s Mayor. First Gentleman of Burgio was Aly Binncema (King amiro, of the branch of the Edrisiti) that left his kingdom in inheritance to Hamud. Hamud lost his kingdom in 1087, during the war against king Ruggero in consequence he was forced to surrender and leave the territory. Throughout the centuries Burgio was dominated by Gentleman who enriched it with aristocratic palaces still in good condition: the Antiochia, the Peralta, the Gioeni, the Colonna. Ancient and more recent testimonials enrich the streets. Most of it is in restructure to make it available to the numerous tourists.
The Town of Burgio
Burgio is a city of historical interest, with a castle of Arabian origin that was conquested and restructured by the Normans. In the following centuries the castle was owned by several aristocratic families, among which the Peraltas, until it was acquired by the town municipality. Today, it is reduced to very miserable conditions. There are more than one hundred portals in stone, bronze bells and craftsmen work area, stained glasses windows, wrought iron and ceramics of ancient work and also, the forest of the Sicani, profuse, rich monuments of works of art and a museum of the Mummies; and on the background a majestic castle.The agriculture is characterized by the production of olives, grapes, almonds, citrus plantations, and other fruit. The home-made pastries from Burgio (cannoli - Sicilian pastries filled with cream) are typical. Very characteristic are the ceramics hand painted with the typical yellow and green color, the bronze bells, wooden objects, and embroideries. The city boasts well developed commercial businesses, notably the only foundry existing in Sicily, important for the production of bells and ceramics. Agriculture is as much important. Among the town's monuments, there is the Chiesa di San Vito (Church of Saint Vito), dated 1500, that beholds a statue of the homonymous Saint, the Chiesa di S. Giuseppe (Church of Saint Joseph), rich of paintings and plasters of the seventeenth century, and the Chiesa di S. Luca Evangelista (Church of Saint Luke the Evangelist), of the XIV century. Historically remarkable is the Arab Castle (or Tower), that has recently been restructured.
The Mother Church
The Mother Church, Burgios main church, standing in the highest part of the town, keeps its medieval features. It is dedicated to St. Anthony the Abbot (the patron saint) and was built in the 12th century and restored in the 14th century. It has a splendid Renaissance external portal on the left side, with a valuable lunette niche where there is a statue of the Madonna with Child, surrounded by small saints. Inside the church, in the chapel dedicated to the Madonna of Trapani, you can admire a beautiful statue of Madonna with Child, made by Vincenzo Gagini (1527-1595).
The walls of the building are entirely decorated with wonderful stuccoes, and there are also five statues by Orazio Ferraro (1573-1650). In the church there is also a big wooden Crucifix dated back to the 13th century. of great beauty is the view you can enjoy just off the church, looking to the valley below.
Holy Week in Burgio
The Easter event is not episodic, but in a centuries-old tradition that expresses in a tangible way a radical attitude of the human spirit that reveals the identity of the people burgitano with its culture and its faith. The community of Burgio Church celebrates the mystery of the Cross and Resurrection through a variety of rituals and gestures that in addition to express an identity as a people, I express the attitudes of faith, hope and charity." The Holy week Burgio, is a mixture of feelings ranging from ritual to the passion and respecting the royalties of a centuries-old tradition has the privilege of turning into spectacle
Rifesi
On every second Sunday in august, from time immemorial, is the procession of Crucifix of Rifesi that the Cathedral Church is transported to the Sanctuary.The procession begins in the early morning and sees the heartfelt participation of the entire population of Burgio. The origins of this ancient rite are very linked to the deep devotion that binds the people of Burgio to Jesus carrying the Cross. The wooden statue, in fact, was first held at the Shrine of Rifesi and transported to Burgio in time of public calamity, only about granting the master of Rifesi. Whoever brought the crucifix to the Shrine were distributed slices of blessed bread.
The Legend of Rifesi
The legend goes that a pastor, handed down from Burgio, carved the body of Christ on the Cross, then the arms, but could not in any way to sculpt the head. But an extraordinary event came to his aid: the head that he would have liked to sculpt was found near him and at the foot of a large oak. Happy for what happened,he attached the head to the rest of the body.This is the legend that is enriched with an episode that takes on the traits of miracle: the oak where the shepherd found the head of Christ was struck by lightning taken after the appearance of a cross.
Famous People
Among Burgio's famous citizens, the jurist Michele Majetti (1888-1958), author of Il codice dei minorenni e la difesa dell'infanzia (Code for the minors and the defense of childhood), and
Venerable Andrea from Burgio (1705-1772), who was a missionary in Congo for a long period of time and is also a Sanit figure to the people of Burgio even though he was never fully recongized as a Saint by theRoman Catholic Church .Demographic evolution
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References
External links
* [http://www.comune.burgio.ag.it/ www.comune.burgio.ag.it/]
* [http://sicilia.indettaglio.it/eng/comuni/ag/burgio/burgio.html site Burgio]
* [http://www.theitalianheritage.it/?content=town,Burgio%7CAG%7C2faf3&lang=english heritage site Burgio]
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