Terrasini

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Facts

Terrasini is located 19 miles (30 km) west of Palermo, between the mountains and the Gulf of Castellammare near the Palermo International Airport. Terrasini’s population works mainly in fishing and tourism. The population triples during the summer. Bounding communes are: Carini, Cinisi, Partinico and Trappeto.

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History

The name Terrasini probably derives from Latin ”terra sinus” = “land at the gulf” (the Gulf of Castellamare) or from “terra sinorum” = “land of the bays” due to the strongly curved coastline with a large number of big and small bays. The name was first cited for the region in a letter of Saint Martin della Scale of November 24, 1350 as “terras vocatas li Terrasini”. The grottoes in the area of Terrasini were inhabited already in the late paleolithic times. On different sites, tracks of Roman settlers were found. The origin of the town goes back to the late medieval times to a small settlement (called Favarotta) of agricultural workers on the large-scale landed property of the family “La Grua Talamanca” from Carini. In the 17th century, fishermen settled at the coast. When the former feudal property was left to the agricultural workers for cultivation, a flourishing agriculture developed around the fishers’ village. Modern Terrasini was founded October 24, 1836, when King Ferdinand II issued a decree that the village Favarotta, then considered part of neighboring Cinisi, should be merged with adjoining Terrasini as a single community.

Sights & Activities

Culture

• Chiesa Madre “Maria SS delle Grazie”, (18th century, facade of 1901)
• Chiesa “Maria SS della Provvidenza”
• Chiesa “Maria SS del Rosario”
• Chiesa “S Rosalia”, (18th century)
• Palazzo Grua, (18th century), now seat of the town administration
• Palazzo Cataldi, (18th century), now seat of the town library
• Palazzo Aumale, built in the 19th century as a winery by Henri d’Orléans, duc d’Aumale, the son of king Louis-Philippe of France, now comprising the three sections of the Museo Civico:
  • Museo del Caretto (ethno-anthropological section)
  • Antiquarium (archaeological section)
  • Museum of history of nature
• Old watchtowers along the coast: Torre Alba (16th century), Torre di Capo Rama (15th century), Torre Toledo or Paternella (16th century)
• Villa Fassini
• Fishers and tourists port

Nature

• Grotta Perciata, a large grotto in the cliffs
• Cala Rossa (red bay, due to the red color of the rocks)
• Natural Park (Riserva Naturale) Capo Rama

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