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Agira (EN)

Agira
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Agira (Enna Province) is 37 km from Enna, alt. 650 m, in the mid-valley of the River Salso, on a rocky highland overlooking Lake Pozzillo, area 163.1 sq km, pop. 9155, post-code 94011, tel.0935. Economy: agriculture (cereals, vegetables, almonds, olives, grapes); handicraft (woodwork and iron, terracotta, embroidery); mineral waters, quarries.

An ancient and thriving Sicel settlement, it became a Greek colony under Timoleon the Corinthian in 339 BC and was named Agyrion. This is where Diodorus Siculus was born in the 1st century BC, the great historian who first attempted to write a universal history of the world.

The town was evangelized in the 4th century by St. Philip, known as the Syrian. The Roman period was not prosperous. The Arab domination is recognizable even today in the complex layout of lanes and courtyards. The earthquake in 1693 caused great damage and hindered the growth of the town (while nearby towns developed).

Of interest is the castle on the hill top.

Photo courtesy of Veda Howell.

Churches (Nicosia Diocese) include the following:
Santa Margherita (Chiesa Madre)
S. Antonio Abate
S. Antonio di Padova
Sant'Antonio di Padua
S. Filippo
San Filippo d-Agira
S. Maria Maggiore
S. Pietro Apostolo
SS. Salvatore

Families researched in these records include the following:
Falco
Licciardo
Prizzi
Seminara

Links to other sites about Agira include:
Agira Photos
Agira Canadian War Cemetery
Italian Wikipedia
Italian Towns
Italian Postal Codes
Sicily Web
Sicilia
Sicilian Net

My latest book on CD is titled Sicily, Part 1 and Part 2 is now available on 2 CDs. With a file for each town (plus many other files), it relates the history of Sicily as reflected in the photos, records and festivals of its towns. It contains over 2500 text and photo files and can be ordered at CD order.


Order Italy Kathy Kirkpatrick


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© Kathy Kirkpatrick 1997-2012