Comitini

Comitini
—  Comune  —
Comune di Comitini
Comitini
Location of Comitini in Italy
Coordinates:
Country Italy
Region Sicily
Province Province of Agrigento (AG)
Area
 • Total 21.7 km2 (8.4 sq mi)
Elevation 350 m (1,148 ft)
Population (Dec. 2008)
 • Total 974
 • Density 44.9/km2 (116.3/sq mi)
Demonym Comitinesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 92020
Dialing code 0922
Website Official website

Comitini (Sicilian: Cuminiti) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Agrigento in the Italian region Sicily, located about 80 km southeast of Palermo and about 13 km northeast of Agrigento. The town was founded in 1627 by Gastone Bellacera on a hill named Comitini. In 1673, Michele Gravina was appointed prince of the town.[1]

In the early 19th century the extraction of sulfur from the mines in the territory, due to an increased demand caused by the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain, gave a new impulse to the economy which was followed by a remarkable population growth. The town became one the most important mining centres of the Agrigento province, as described by Luigi Pirandello in his novel The Old and the Young (I vecchi e i giovani) (1928).[2] With the decline of the sulfur mining industry in the 20th century many townspeople opted for emigration.[3]

A long strip of land between the country towns of Aragona and Grotte, Comitini boasts a substantial agricultural production of almonds, olives, grapes, and citrus fruits. As of 31 December 2008, it had a population of 974 and an area of 21.7 km².[4]

Comitini borders the following municipalities Aragona, Favara, Grotte.

Demographic evolution


References

  1. ^ Comitini, Sicilia in dettaglio
  2. ^ The Old And the Young, Luigi Pirandello (1928)
  3. ^ (Italian) La Storia Mineraria
  4. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.

External links