Borgo Bonsignore is one of the seaside locations in the territory of Ribera. It stands on the plain of the former feudal estate of Santo Pietro Sottano, in a picturesque and beautiful position just eleven kilometers from Ribera. The characteristic feature of this area is the unspoiled coast with renowned beaches such as Lido Fungitella, Pietre Cadute, and the area of the Foce del fiume Platani Nature Reserve. During the summer, a committee of residents organizes shows, dance nights, theatrical performances, and film screenings that take place under the stars in the main square. The last decade of August is dedicated to celebrating St. Peter, the Patron Saint of Borgo, with a procession, fireworks, and a pasta dish (rigatonata) in the main square.

Borgo, a place of poetry…

Farina writes about Borgo: "The air is very healthy, and the blooming and verdant fields are dotted with a myriad of small white houses scattered among the trees, which hide the view of the azure sea beyond the dense and lush pine forest that lines the shore, under a constantly clear and cheerful sky. It is needless to say that the site is enchanting. A few hundred meters away, we see the tip of Capo Bianco with its cliffs covered in flowers and green moss, which enhance the beauty and originality of the cliff that drops steeply into the sea, which bears witness to the glorious deeds of the Roman ships. And even higher, on the plain of the former Piana di Vizì feudal estate, the three-thousand-year-old Eraclea Minoa silently overlooks, with its ancient ruins, cyclopean walls, magnificent Greek theater, and debris frozen in time."
The historian continues his narrative, blending history and mythology: "Borgo A. Bonsignore stands next to the ruins of ancient Inico, the capital of the Sicani, which was ruled by Cocalo, a brave and powerful king, famous for his connection with Daedalus, the renowned architect and sculptor, and Minos, the king of the Cretans. The fact that Inico stood there has been substantiated by the discovery of ancient remains that clearly show Inico must have truly existed on the plain of the former San Pietro estate, between the Magazzolo and Platani rivers, facing the Mediterranean Sea."

… and history

The territory where Borgo Bonsignore now stands was once one of the feuds of the Duchy of Bivona, known as San Pietro. In 1934, the cooperative "La Bonifica" leased the former San Pietro estate, owned by the Hospitals of Sciacca, covering about six hundred hectares, one-third of which was sandy land, and divided it into 79 plots. The cooperative's first action was to make the access road, seven kilometers long from the national road to the plateau, passable. This was followed by works to uproot dwarf palms, construction of internal roads, an irrigation canal, farmhouses, stables, forage silos, warehouses, administrative buildings, drainage, land clearing, and the planting of olive groves and vineyards, a new aqueduct, tanks, and farm roads. Even the sandy areas were cultivated, and some families from Ribera decided to move there. [Nicolò Inglese, see note]

The present-day district of Borgo Bonsignore takes its name from "Antonio Bonsignore," a carabinieri captain from Agrigento, awarded the gold medal, who died in combat at Gemu Gador (Italian East Africa) on April 24, 1936. The National Land Reclamation Agency officially inaugurated the rural settlement on December 10, 1940, located thirteen kilometers from Ribera. The settlement was composed of a large complex of buildings constructed by the Agency: a town hall, a primary school, a restaurant, twenty-five farmhouses, a post office, a carabinieri barracks, a medical clinic, and a parish church with stained-glass windows and valuable frescoes by the painter Amorelli of Sambuca. The Agency assigned to the settlement, with the obligation to reside there, a doctor, a midwife, a clerk, and two guards, along with duties as water carriers.
A few years later, some land from the former Cuci-Cuci estate, the former San Pietro della Palma, and Giardinello estates were included, expanding the boundaries of the settlement from the Magazzolo to the Platani rivers. The population, which was only around one hundred at the time of its inauguration, grew to six hundred in just a few years.
[Nicolò Inglese, History of Ribera, Agrigento, Tipografia Vescovile Padri Vocazionisti, 1966]. Another bibliographic source: Giovanni Farina, Ribera and Its Territory, Palermo 1979.

The city of Ribera has also been called “Crispina” because it is the birthplace of Francesco Crispi, born on October 4, 1818. His birthplace still exists today, located at the corner of the street bearing his name and Corso Umberto. Its considerable size and structure are a good representation of the 19th-century bourgeois solidity. In the early 1990s, it was reinforced and restored. Crispi spent only the first years of his childhood there before being sent to Villafranca and Palermo for his education.

Francesco Crispi was born in Ribera (Agrigento) on October 4, 1818, to Tommaso Crispi, of Albanian origin, a grain merchant, and Giuseppina Genova. He graduated in Law from the University of Palermo and became a lawyer. A prominent figure of the Italian Risorgimento, he was one of the organizers of the Sicilian Revolution of 1848 and was the ideator and strongest supporter of the Expedition of the Thousand, in which he participated.

Initially a follower of Mazzini, he converted to monarchist ideals in 1864. Anti-clerical and hostile to the Vatican, after the unification of Italy, he served four terms as Prime Minister: from 1887 to 1891 and from 1893 to 1896. In the first period, he was also Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Interior, while in the second, he also held the position of Minister of the Interior. He was the first southerner to become Prime Minister. In foreign policy, he cultivated a friendship with Germany, which, along with Italy and Austria, formed the Triple Alliance. His governments were noted for important social reforms (such as the Zanardelli Code, which abolished the death penalty and introduced the right to strike), but also for the war against anarchists and socialists, whose uprisings in the Sicilian Fasci were suppressed with martial law. In economic terms, his fourth government improved the country's conditions. However, Crispi supported an expensive colonial policy which, after some successes in East Africa, led to the defeat at Adwa in 1896. This event marked the end of Crispi’s political career. He died in Naples on August 11, 1901.

Where it is located

On a pleasant hill, three kilometers from Ribera, lie the striking ruins of a castle. It is the Castle of Poggio Diana, with its high and imposing crenellated tower, which reappears stylized on the official coat of arms of the municipality, becoming the emblem of the city of Ribera. The castle is located on a rocky spur overlooking the valley of the Verdura River. Originally known by the Saracen name of Misilcassino, meaning "place of horseback descent," the castle adopted its current name in the 16th century in honor of the noblewoman Diana Moncada, who married Count Gian Vincenzo Luna in 1511. It was the Saracens who first built a castle in the 9th century on the hill, on the left side of the Verdura River (Alba-Sosio), a few miles from the sea. It was named Misilcassino after the adjacent fief.
Later, in the 12th century, the Normans felt the need to build a fortified castle to defend the nearby small communities and the lands they had conquered between the Platani River and Caltabellotta, once called Triocala. The castle served as a gathering place for the people of the surrounding countryside. The fortified structure dominates, from the height of its tower, the steep slope and the deep valley of the Verdura River. The river’s course near the castle is winding and, flowing through a narrow gorge carved into the calcareous rock, forms three large bends, the last of which touches the hill of Poggio Diana.

 How it was built

Set atop the hill, the castle follows an irregular layout covering an area of about 3,000 square meters, adapting to the shape of the land. It was built with cut sandstone and features small rectangular windows in the Arab-Norman style, according to the military architecture rules of the time, complete with a drawbridge, a large rectangular courtyard, a chapel, stables, an armory, and barracks for the garrison. Remains of the original fortress include parts of the perimeter walls, the square corner bastion, and the 25-meter-high cylindrical tower, crowned with characteristic corbels. Inside the cylindrical tower is a ribbed vaulted ceiling on an octagonal base, a type of roof found in the towers of the Swabian-Frederician castles. The castle had two entrances: one facing south, the other north, both leading into a large courtyard. Once the two entrance doors were barred, no one could enter. The castle's outer defense line was made of a high and thick wall, while another wall, built with the internal buildings, connected by stable structures, enclosed the fortress. These buildings were connected by corridors and crenellated terraces. A pointed arch gate led to a second courtyard. Two masonry bridges, of which some ruins are still visible, connected the two sides of the nearby river.

 Who it belonged to

Initially, the extensive possessions of the Sciacca countryside, including the castle, were assigned in the 1100s by Count Roger the Norman to his daughter Giulietta, and later passed to her children. In 1253, the castle and the lands of Misilcassino, including the barony of Magazzolo, were granted by King Manfred, the last of the Swabians, to his relative Matteo Maletta. In 1392, Frederick II of Aragon granted the castle to Count Guglielmo Peralta, Lord of Caltabellotta, son of Guglielmo I. Later, it passed to a nobleman from Sciacca, Artale Luna, who had married Margherita Peralta, the heir to the County of Caltabellotta. The castle's title was then passed to his son, Antonio de Luna, on November 10, 1453, by royal privilege granted by King Alfonso the Magnanimous.

 The Castle favored by Diana

On November 7, 1510, Giovan Vincenzo de Luna, married to Diana Moncada, lord of the lands between Caltabellotta and the Verdura and Magazzolo rivers (Isburo), was granted the fief of Misilcassino. Attracted by the mild climate and the incomparable beauty of the place, Count Luna would annually descend from his castle in Caltabellotta to the castle of Misilcassino during the winter, which he renamed “Poggio Diana Castle” in honor of his wife. Diana Moncada loved the place so much that she was truly happy to spend several months there each year. A part of the castle, still known as the “lady’s floor,” recalls Lady Moncada, who was not only beautiful and intelligent but also courageous. In fact, whenever her husband left to aid his friends near or far, she did not return to Caltabellotta but remained in the castle, where at night she would inspect the sentries on the walls. “Given the times, there was no personal safety against the raids of the Turks and African pirates, and two secret passages led directly from the lord's apartment to the outdoors: one to the riverbank, the other uphill. […] One winter night, the silence was broken by the sound of the bell tolling—an alarm signal. The castle was under attack, but Diana Moncada did not run to one of the secret passages. She bravely faced the attackers and forced them to retreat with losses” (from Nicolò Inglese, Storia di Ribera, Agrigento, Tipografia Vescovile Padri Vocazionisti, 1966).

The Church of Ribera, dedicated to the Immaculate Virgin Mary (Maria SS. Immacolata), was built in 1686. The church is elevated above the street level and is accessed via a double staircase. The façade features some typical elements of the Baroque style, such as the access portal and the window above it. The interior consists of a single nave, with four side altars and eight niches. On the right side, above the altar, there is a niche of St. Antonino, next to that of St. Rita. On the second altar is the Madonna of Mount Carmel, beside the main altar, on the right side, the niche of St. Joseph. In the center, the main altar is topped by the niche of Our Lady of Fatima. On the left side, there is a recessed exhibition niche with a representation of the dead Christ.

Above the altar, there is the niche of Ecce Homo, next to that of Our Lady of Sorrows. On the second altar is St. Vincent Ferrer, beside the pulpit, where Mass was celebrated. On either side of the main altar, two paintings can be admired: the Madonna of the Souls in Purgatory and St. Fare. These paintings are works by Sicilian artisans from the 18th century, painted by Francesco Triscia from Sciacca. 

After the first Mother Church, built in Ribera in 1637, a second church was built in 1670 due to population growth, and in 1751, for the same reason, a third, much larger church with three naves in Rococo style was constructed. The current Mother Church began construction on March 21, 1751, initiated by the archpriest Stefano Bona and under the direction of Paolo Bartolotta, and was completed in 1760. In 1857, the parents of the Sicilian statesman Francesco Crispi were buried in the nave of the Sacrament. In 1907, the new archpriest Don Nicolò Licata took an interest in demolishing the provisional bell tower, constructing the façade, and refining the interior works. To fund these projects, he went to the United States in 1913 and successfully raised a considerable sum from Italian emigrants.
The façade was quite monumental, and three beautiful wooden doors were installed, crafted by the skilled artist Giuseppe Cusumano from Sciacca and Antonino Leto from Ribera.
The church was inaugurated on April 25, 1915, the third Sunday of Easter, in the presence of Bishop Mons. Lagumina. Later, Professor Luciano Vitabile from Sciacca decorated the capitals with gold and painted sacred artworks in the chapels of the Blessed Sacrament and St. Joseph.
After the war, also under the initiative of Archpriest Licata, the bell tower was constructed.

The architect Francesco Valenti designed the bell tower, which stands 40 meters tall, and it was built by the artisans Benedetto Trapani and Raimondo Lentini. On May 3, 1926, Bishop Mons. Lagumina inaugurated the new bell tower. A side door was opened to allow for the celebration of sacred functions. Damaged by the earthquake of 1968, and again during the Christmas holidays, on December 29, 1969, continuous heavy rains caused the collapse of the central and lateral vaults. The Mother Church remained closed until restoration works allowed its reopening in December 1999.

Inside the Mother Church, we can admire an oil painting on the main altar depicting the Madonna of the Rosary, by Provenzani; another painting, by an unknown artist, was placed on the right altar of the lateral nave, depicting St. Anna and St. Joachim.

The Platani River Mouth Nature Reserve is a protected area established on July 4, 1984, by the Sicilian Region with the following reason: "To guarantee the conservation of bird populations, encourage the reconstitution of Mediterranean scrub, and protect the dunes."

The Platani River Mouth Nature Reserve is located in the province of Agrigento and encompasses the mouth of the Platani River and a part of Borgo Bonsignore, covering a total area of approximately 206 hectares.

The Platani River is one of the most important in all of Sicily and flows into the sea near Capo Bianco, a stunning white cliff made of limestone marl, at the top of which is the acropolis of Eraclea Minoa, a place where the beauty of nature meets the charm of history, creating a truly unique atmosphere.

The protective reforestation from the 1950s consists of a pine forest (Pinus Halepensis, Pinus Pinea, and Pinus Canariensis), with some patches of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Camaldulensis) and Acacia.

Under the reforestation, in many areas, a flourishing underbrush of Mediterranean scrub species exists, particularly Lentisco (Pistacia Lentiscus), Spiny Asparagus (Asparagus Acutifolius), Dwarf Palm (Chamaerops Humilis), Tamarisk (Tamarix Gallica), and Carob (Ceratonia Siliqua).

These herbaceous and shrub species colonize and facilitate the formation of dunes that protect the vegetation from saltwater and strong winds.

Along the entire mouth, you can find abundant species such as: Reeds, Rushes, Kali grass, Sea Lily, and Beach Pipit.

As for the fauna, the reserve is home to the Caretta Caretta turtle and various species of migratory birds such as the Avocet, the Black-winged Stilt, the Peregrine Falcon, and the Marsh Harrier. Other bird species also nest here, finding their natural habitat. In the more interior part of the Platani River Nature Reserve, you can find the Collar Snake and the Wild Rabbit.

In its last kilometers, the Verdura River, which forms the natural border between Caltabellotta and Ribera, has carved a fantastic canyon over the centuries in the sandstone rock, known as the Wolf Gorge. The old "trazzera" (path) once passed through here, connecting the two towns. Modern roads rarely cross landscapes like this. On the opposite bank of the river, one can access the Poggiodiana Castle.
The original structure of the castle, of which only the perimeter walls and the watchtower remain today, was built by the Arabs as a resting place for travelers. It stands on a natural promontory that borders the plain where the famous Ribera oranges are cultivated, making it a strategic location for defense. It was known as Misilcassino, an Arabic name meaning "place of descent by horseback." The name Poggiodiana was adopted when the castle passed into the hands of the Luna family in the 15th century. It belonged to the noblewoman Diana Moncada, daughter of Prince Luigi Guglielmo Moncada of Paternò, and wife of Vincenzo Luna.

The Tardàra Fluvial-Cartographic Gorges are formed by a deep canyon carved by the Carboj River, which flows downstream from the artificial dam of Lake Arancio, in the terminal section of its course. This narrow cleft, also known as the Orange Gorge, was formed by the erosive action of the Carboj River, which over time has cut a deep incision about 200 meters wide and 2 kilometers long. It divides the calcareous complex in this area into two sectors, called Monte Arancio (403 m) and Monte Cirami (516 m), located to the northwest and southeast of the gorge.

This canyon is of great naturalistic and environmental interest, both for its geological and paleontological features and for the plant and animal populations it houses. Geologically, this incision consists of a meso-cenozoic carbonate succession, known in literature as the Saccense Unit. The stratigraphic succession in this area is characterized by several meters of white peritidal limestones from the Lower Jurassic, followed by gray-pink condensed limestones with ammonites from the Middle-Upper Jurassic, white limestones with Calpionella from Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous, and calcilutites with silica layers and nodules from Upper Cretaceous-Eocene.

The Gorge is also known for hosting significant karstic features in limestone, particularly caves of notable speleological interest. These are most expressed in the Lisarella Cave (also known as Lisaredda), located on the right side of the Gorge, which is also of archaeological importance due to the presence of Neolithic remains found there.

Flora-wise, the Tardàra Gorges represent a peculiar biotope characterized by endemic or biogeographically significant plant species, particularly those found on the rocky cliffs, ledges, and semi-rocky environments. The presence of karstic caves has also facilitated the settlement of several bat colonies, which are currently being studied.

The Monti di Palazzo Adriano and Valle del Sosio Nature Reserve is a protected natural area located in the municipalities of Bivona and Burgio, in the province of Agrigento, as well as in Chiusa Sclafani and Palazzo Adriano, in the metropolitan city of Palermo. It was established by the Sicilian Region in 1997. In 2012, it became part of the Sicani Mountains Park. In 2019, following the annulment of the Sicani Mountains Park, it was restored.

In this reserve, fossils from the Permian period, the oldest found in Sicily, can be found. The credit for promoting this natural area goes to paleontologist Gaetano Giorgio Gemmellaro (1832-1904). The area is managed by the Regional Forests Agency. The reserve covers an area of 5,862 hectares and is crossed by the Sosio River (a watercourse that originates between Santo Stefano Quisquina and Bivona). It was inaugurated in May 2005 and offers 40 trails, over 60 species of birds, more than 47 botanical species (including beautiful orchids), mushrooms such as the "funcia di ferla," and a recreational area, the Menta area in the San Adriano forest. The recreational area of the reserve was inaugurated on May 18, 2005.

Con le Vie della Zagara il Distretto Agrumi di Sicilia , con specifiche strategie complementari, si propongono di aggiungere valore agli agrumi siciliani nell’intento condiviso di riaffermarli e comunicarli quale espressione fedele dell’identità dei diversi territori di produzione e con la consapevolezza che in un sistema di mercato globale la competitività è sempre più determinata dall’offerta prodotto/territorio

Fondamentale il ruolo dei Consorzi di tutela IGP, DOP e BIO – testimoni dell’identità dei territori e garanti della qualità – nella gestione del sistema territoriale che costituisce l’armatura indispensabile per la costruzione di una offerta di Turismo Relazionale Integrato.

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Una via antica per passi moderni. Storie di sorrisi e di fatica, cavalieri, pastori e mercanti che attraversano la Sicilia più vera e più antica. Nove giorni e 183 km, dalla Conca d’oro di Palermo alle valli sicane fino al mar Mediterraneo di Agrigento, “più bella tra le città dei mortali”

La regina tra le vie francigene di Sicilia. 20 giorni di montagna lungo le distese dell’Appennino siculo, tra Madonie, Nebrodi e Peloritani. Tra i parchi e le riserve orientate dell’isola alla scoperta della via percorsa dai re normanni, dai pellegrini diretti in Terrasanta e dai viandanti moderni.

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Piana Grande Beach is a true gem of the Agrigento coastline, known for its breathtaking landscapes and its evocative atmosphere. Located between Ribera and Sciacca, this beach stands out for its natural beauty and tranquility. Along the coastline, there are sandy and pebbly stretches, enriched by dunes covered with Mediterranean scrub, providing a precious habitat for local flora and fauna.

Seccagrande is the most renowned seaside village of Ribera, located about 10 km from the city. In summer, it is frequented by many vacationers, not only from Ribera, who move to Seccagrande to spend their holidays, crowding the beaches and the airy and welcoming "Gagarin" promenade, filled with many venues where they can spend entire afternoons or enchanting evenings together. Every summer, fishing contests, beach games, and numerous events sponsored by the local government attract many visitors to entertain summer evenings. The fireworks display, accompanied by music, held every year at midnight on August 15th on the beach, is a must-see event visible from the promenade.

A Bit of History: The People of Ribera and Seccagrande      

Historian Farina writes: "The territory of the Ribera Mandamento was mostly part of the southeastern domain of the ancient and famous Caltabellotta; it is extended between the fertile hills, pleasant valleys, and the sea. The sea has always been the natural route for commerce, and the people of Ribera, known for their bold initiatives, built the current road to reach it long ago."
From the national road SS. 115, near the entrance gate of the Spataro district of Dr. Giovanni Parlapiano Vella, begins the road to Seccagrande, running across the vast plateau between the Piana and Castellana estates. Continuing gently downhill through the Camemi estate and the seafront, it ends at the mouth of the Magazzolo River. It is an old rural road built by the interested landowners, who, not long ago, used it to transport products from the land by cart to the beach, where sailing ships arrived carrying grain to distant countries. Back then, our bay seemed like a small harbor, and it should be one, both due to the natural shape of the beach and because, at a point near the shore called "the Lagusta ditch," the sea is very deep."

"The people of Ribera, following an ancient tradition, after the harvest, gathered in Seccagrande in groups and smaller parties, seeking freshness, greenery, and iodized air. For the occasion, they built huts with branches and colorful tents on the plateau to spend the summer period, which they called weekends, holidays, or vacations. Seccagrande beach is made up of a long stretch of barren and pebbly land, which extends southward to the mouth of the Magazzolo River. On the opposite side, the beach forms a protruding arc into the sea, ending in a large sandbank with numerous rocky shores. From this sandbank, the locality took its name: "Seccagrande."
"Seccagrande! Along the coastal strip, the dwarf palm still dominated, but even in winter, on beautiful days, the beach was no longer silent, nor was the solitude only broken, as in the past, by the presence of some shepherd, guarding herds and flocks grazing, who would stop at the edge of the plateau to gaze at the vast expanse of waters. The people of Ribera no longer thought about building a port, but they frequented the area and crowded it in the summer, intending to make it not only a seaside resort but also a welcoming vacation spot, as evidenced by the first constructions." [Nicolò Inglese, 1966]

The Municipal Park represents the city's jewel. It is a charming place to visit and appreciate, immersed in lush flora with many species of rare plants and ancient trees. A journey through intense and delicate colors and scents, with pathways between flowers, allows for relaxing walks. Three water basins are present in the park, where you can see the swan house. There is also a children's playground, a healthy and fun place.
Inside the park, the permanent Ethnographic and Anthropological Museum is also worth a visit. It was established in 1989 by the "Ribera Verde" association, which collected more than 4,000 artifacts from the agricultural, pastoral, and artisanal civilization of this territory. The establishment of the museum allowed for the recovery, cataloging, restoration, conservation, and accessibility of all tools and agricultural machines from the ancient art of farmers.

Ethnographic and Anthropological Museum

Inside the Villa, the permanent Ethnographic and Anthropological Museum is worth a visit. Established in 1989 by the "Ribera Verde" association, it has collected more than 4,000 artifacts from the agricultural, pastoral, and artisanal civilization of this territory. The establishment of the museum allowed for the recovery, cataloging, restoration, conservation, and accessibility of all tools and agricultural machines from the ancient art of farmers.