๐ฎ๐น Sambuca di Sicilia is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Agrigento in the Italian region Sicily, located about 68 km (42ย mi) south-west of Palermo and about 89 km (55ย mi) north-west of Agrigento.
Sambuca di Sicilia borders the following municipalities; Bisacquino, Caltabellotta, Contessa Entellina, Giuliana, Menfi, Santa Margherita di Belice, and Sciacca.
History The origins of the name Sambuca are uncertain. The main assumptions: from the Greek stringed instrument Sambuca; or from Sambucus, commonly referred to as elderberry plants, widespread since antiquity in the valley of Lake Arancio. Leonardo Sciascia breaks down the name Sambuca in As-Sambuqah and interprets it as a "remote place". Until 1928 the town was called Sambuca Zabut. In 1928, Benito Mussolini removed "Zabut" and added "di Sicilia".
Sambuca, founded by ancient Greek colonists, rose to regional prominence as a trading hub after invading Arab Muslims took over around 830, a few years after their landing in Sicily. According to the folk tradition, It was called Zabuth, in remembrance of the emir Zabut ("The Splendid One") Al-Arab, who built a castle at that place, on the slopes of Mount Genuardo, between the rivers Belice and Sosius, 350 meters above sea level. Zabut Al-Maghrebi was a follower of the ascetic Ibn Mankud, "Burning Warrior of faith", Lord of the independent Kabyle of Trapani, Marsala, Sciacca.
Zabut was inhabited by a Muslim population until the 13th century, when it was conquered by Frederick II.
From the 15th to 19th centuries, Sambuca experienced alternating extremes of prosperity and poor economic times. The court passed the Roman family Barberini and new neighborhoods were built, the city wall was expanded, and palaces, baronial mansions, churches, monasteries, and convents were built. The Land of Sambuca was promoted from barony to marquessate with the privilege of Philip II of Spain (Madrid 15 November 1570). On 16 September 1666, the Marquessate of Sambuca passed to the Beccadelli family from Bologna, who had risen to the rank of princes of the Principality of Camporeale.
Sambuca in the 19th century was rich with culture, and in those years an enlightened middle class emerged. The writer, poet and patriot Vincenzo Navarro (it) died there in 1867.
The town's population declined in the 21st century due to its lacking economy and low birth rate. The population in the 2010s was 5834. Since the 2012 census, the town has seen a decrease of over 200 inhabitants.
Sambuca di Sicilia gained international media attention in January 2019 for selling homes in an auction with a starting price of โฌ1, in hopes of attracting foreign residents to stop the area's depopulation. This became the basis for the HGTV documentary television series shot there, My Big Italian Adventure, starring American actress Lorraine Bracco and chronicling her months-long effort to renovate a roughly 200-year-old โฌ1 townhouse at Via Guglielmo Marconi.
Geography The city has an area of 37 square miles (96ย kmยฒ). The territory of Sambuca di Sicilia is located in 42.25 miles (67.99ย km) from Palermo, about 21 miles (34ย km) from the archaeological park of Selinunte, and about 21 miles (34ย km) from Lido Fiori, location of a Blue Flag beach. Perched on a hill, with a Belvedere terrace at its peak, the town is surrounded by hills and woods, Mount Genuardo (3,305 feet - 1,007ย m), and the valleys of the river Carboj that form the reservoir of Lake Arancio.
Tourist Industry โข Belvedere terrace โข remains of the castle of the Emir. โข palace Panitteri (17th century), home of the ethno-anthropological museum) โข Palazzo dell'Arpa (town hall) โข Palazzo Ciaccio โข setti vaneddi (seven Saracen alleyways)
Outside the centre, are the ancient towers of Pandolfina and Cellaro, the Fortino di Mazzallakkar which emerge only in the summer months when the lake level is lowered. On Adranon mountain there is the 4th century BC archaeological complex. There is an old Arab house in the holiday area of Adragna.
Churches โข Santuario di Maria SS. dell'Udienza and Carmelites convent โฆ Church of the Carmine with Antonello Gagini's marble statue of the Our Lady of the Audience โข Chiesa della Matrice โข Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo โฆ Church of St. Michael Archangel with its wooden equestrian statue of St. George, patron Saint of Sambuca di Sicilia, slaying the dragon. โข Chiesa del Rosario โข Chiesa della Madonna dei Vassalli โข Chiesa del Purgatorio โข Chiesa di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria and Benedictine monastery โข Chiesa della Concezione โข Chiesa di Gesรน e Maria โข Chiesa di San Giuseppe โข Chiesa di San Calogero โข Chiesa di Santa Lucia โข Chiesa di Sant'Antonino โข Chiesa della Bammina โข Chiesa di San Giuseppe del Serrone โข Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista โข Convento dei Cappuccini โข Collegio di Maria โข Monastero di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria
Sambuca di Sicilia has a population of over 5,878 people. Sambuca di Sicilia also forms part of the wider Agrigento Province which has a population of over 474,493 people. It is also a part of the larger Sicily Region. Sambuca di Sicilia is situated 68 km south-west of Palermo.
Twin Towns, Sister Cities Sambuca di Sicilia has links with:
๐บ๐ธ Winter Haven, USA๐บ๐ธ South San Francisco 37.65
๐บ๐ธ Pleasanton 37.65
๐ฎ๐น Mazara del Vallo 37.65
๐น๐ฒ Baรฝramaly 37.617
๐ฐ๐ท Eunpyeong District 37.603
๐ฉ๐ช Luckenwalde 13.167
๐ฆ๐น Sankt Johann im Pongau 13.2
๐ฎ๐น Senigallia 13.217
๐ฉ๐ช Oranienburg 13.233
Locations Near: Sambuca di Sicilia 13.1128,37.6488
๐ฎ๐น Palermo 13.362,38.115 d: 56.3
๐ฎ๐น Mazara del Vallo 12.583,37.65 d: 46.6
๐ฎ๐น Agrigento 13.586,37.303 d: 56.8
๐ฎ๐น Trapani 12.515,38.019 d: 66.7
๐ฎ๐น Caltanissetta 14.063,37.49 d: 85.6
๐ฎ๐น Enna 14.267,37.55 d: 102.2
๐ฎ๐น Caltagirone 14.5,37.233 d: 130.9
๐ฎ๐น Vittoria 14.533,36.95 d: 147.7
Antipodal to: Sambuca di Sicilia -166.887,-37.649
๐น๐ด Nuku'alofa -175.216,-21.136 d: 18011.7
๐ฆ๐ธ Pago Pago -170.701,-14.279 d: 17389.4
๐ผ๐ธ Apia -171.76,-13.833 d: 17323.4
๐ต๐ซ Papeete -149.566,-17.537 d: 17212.4
๐บ๐ธ Hilo -155.089,19.725 d: 13517
๐บ๐ธ Maui -156.446,20.72 d: 13433.4
๐บ๐ธ Maui County -156.617,20.868 d: 13420.2
๐บ๐ธ Wailuku -156.505,20.894 d: 13415.4