
| HISTORY OF ALESSANDRIA DELLA ROCCA | |
Alessandria della Rooca is located to the north of Agrigento on a hill side and in the middle of an agricultural area producing mainly almonds and different kinds of fruits. The original name of the town was Alessandria della Pietra and it comes from Presti Alessandro who owned the land where the nearby Castello della Pietra Amico castle was built. In 1713 the town started to be called Alessandria di Sicilia and in 1862 it was given the present name Alessandria della Rocca. The town was founded in 1542 by Don Nicoḷ Barresi who acquired the permit of autonomous administration and legal power over that land In 1636 Donna Elisabetta Melchiora Barresi Di Napoli became Princess of Alessandria and spent there most of her time. The last local Baron was Pietro Barresi in 1788. Alessandria has a grid town planning. It stand 533 m. above the sea level There live 5200 people.
Religious feasts
LA MADONNA DELLA ROCCA FEAST
takes place at the end of August and dates back to 1630. It reminds of a miracle which happened to a blind girl who started to see after founding a statue of the Virgin hidden underground.
OLIVE OIL FAIR
It takes place in December and promotes the local extra virgin Biancolilla olive oil.
MAIN MONUMENTS
SANTA MARIA DEL PILERIO
MOTHER CHURCH dating from 1953 and containing valuable paintings
THE COLLEGIO DI MARIA CONVENT
dating from 1664
THE CROCIFISSO CHURCH
from the 17th century
THE SANCTUARY OF MADONNA DELLA ROCCA
is out side the town on the way to San Biagio Platani