Castelvetrano

The origin of Castelvetrano dates back to the ancient populations of sicane Legum and then the colonies of the so-called veterans selinuntini for the guard of the commodities from which the ancient name "castrum veteranorum." The existence of the town is documented from the Angevin. It is in 1299 that Castelvetrano is granted to Tagliavia future princes of the city, whose name will be changed in time and Pignatelli Aragona between the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century, Castelvetrano became the "capital" of the possessions of Aragon Tagliavia- , enriched with many works of art. In 1522 Charles V, elevated the city to the county, in 1564 Philip II erected in the principality. In 1600 occurred famine and pestilence, while the recovery took place in the second 700. After the Risorgimento, which involve following Garibaldi teams of volunteers, and after the unification of Italy, the domain of Castelvetrano pass for at least half a century in the hands of the powerful family Saporito. They will have the construction of the theater Selinus, and the launch of numerous industrial activities. The prosperity of the city as an agricultural center is mainly due to the cultivation of vineyards and olive groves and the export of olive oil and wine. The city's economy, the second dopoguerraincentrata on the primary sector with some attempt to engineering and the development of the timber industry, tip today mainly on tourism, as evidenced by the numerous hotels and restaurants whose center is equipped.

And 'likely, however, that the name CASTRUM VETERANUM, before designating a town, has designated a location, an intersection of roads. While admitting the existence of a settlement in ancient times, or the possibility of a hamlet, it must be said that Castelvetrano buy a distinct identity in the twelfth century. In this period the city's history intertwines with that of Tagliavia, which, thanks to a clever expansionist policy, initiate the development of Castelvetrano which became capital of all their feuds. At the end of the fourteenth century, the city had to have a curtain wall and fortifications, probably the castle, which today remains only an octagonal tower. Between the end of the fifteenth century and the beginning of the sixteenth, Castelvetrano reached its greatest splendor for the clever expansionist policy of his lords, as already said, made the city the center of their possessions. Charles V, in 1522, raised in Castelvetrano county, Philip II, in 1564, he erected a principality. The valuation of the land, the introduction of more intensive farming methods and rational, the adoption of more profitable crops etc ... brought about a rapid rise of Castelvetrano in various sectors: agriculture, industry, economic, urban, etc. ...

Castelvetrano reached the zenith of its glory with Carlo D'Aragon, "Magnus Siculus" mentioned by Manzoni as governor of the State of Milan in 1582. With him, the city administration was streamlined and made more efficient, leading to forty the number of directors, assigning seats to nobles, artisans and bourgeois, with the use of criteria certainly not democratic. Charles raised the problem of water supply of the city by the water Bigini, initiating a colossal work at the time that, because of opposition and difficulty of varied nature, was completed in 1615, as can be read on the plaque of the fountain of the Nymphs, built for the occasion by John III of Aragon. The memory of Aragon - Tagliavia, was held today live from the Feast of the Prince. Going back to 1500, remember that in those years were built or enlarged several convents, built new churches, new confraternities formed etc ... The city prospered, was enriched with new monuments and other works, becoming the center of a flourishing craft workshops and home d ' art. The economic situation experienced an improvement, and this is thanks to the rent of estates to grow. However, at the end of the century, began a period of bad harvests and epidemics, even aggravated by the extortions of the tax. Following the motion of Palermo Giuseppe D'Alessi, the people rose up Castelvetrano exacerbated by the famine, but the revolt was brutally crushed. Despite these difficulties, continued in 1600, the foundations of churches and monasteries. In 1720, the city was faced employment and Austrian troops, both those that damaged the Spanish territory.