Menfi
Encyclopedia
Menfi is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Agrigento
in the Italian
region Sicily
, located about 70 km southwest of Palermo
and about 60 km northwest of Agrigento
.
The town lies some 3 km from the south coast of Sicily, between the rivers Belice
and Carboj. In 1910, a full third of the population of the town of Menfi had emigrated to the United States http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/offers.html?url=%2Fchicagotribune%2Faccess%2F387332051.html%3FFMT%3DAI%26FMTS%3DABS%3AAI%26type%3Dhistoric%26date%3DMay%2B05%252C%2B1910%26author%3D%26pub%3DChicago%2BTribune%26desc%3DThe%2BWide%252C%2BWide%2BWorld.. There was a particularly large community of Menfi emigrants in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York City. On Starr Street in this neighborhood in Brooklyn, the emigrants established "The Flower of Menfi", which was a social club for Menfi emigrants and their families. On April 16, 1927, "The Flower of Menfi", described as "an organization of young men in Brooklyn", publically sent a telegram to Governor Fuller asking for clemency in the openly anti-Italian American trial of Sacco and Vanzetti. http://rdas-proxy.mercy.edu:2103/pqdweb?index=9&did=97231417&SrchMode=2&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1317448836&clientId=10766
Remains of an Iron Age
prehistoric settlement have been found in the 1980s outside the town.
, Italy, since 1997 Chivilcoy
, Argentina, since 1999 Ettlingen
, Germany, since 2004
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the Province of Agrigento
Province of Agrigento
Agrigento is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy. It has an area of 3,042 km², and a total population of 454,370...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, located about 70 km southwest of Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
and about 60 km northwest of Agrigento
Agrigento
Agrigento , is a city on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy, and capital of the province of Agrigento. It is renowned as the site of the ancient Greek city of Akragas , one of the leading cities of Magna Graecia during the golden...
.
The town lies some 3 km from the south coast of Sicily, between the rivers Belice
Belice
The Belice is a river, 77 km in length, of western Sicily. From its main source near Piana degli Albanesi it runs south and west for 45.5 km as the Belice Destra until it is joined on the left by its secondary branch, the 42 km Belice Sinistro , which rises on the slopes of Rocca Busambra...
and Carboj. In 1910, a full third of the population of the town of Menfi had emigrated to the United States http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/offers.html?url=%2Fchicagotribune%2Faccess%2F387332051.html%3FFMT%3DAI%26FMTS%3DABS%3AAI%26type%3Dhistoric%26date%3DMay%2B05%252C%2B1910%26author%3D%26pub%3DChicago%2BTribune%26desc%3DThe%2BWide%252C%2BWide%2BWorld.. There was a particularly large community of Menfi emigrants in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York City. On Starr Street in this neighborhood in Brooklyn, the emigrants established "The Flower of Menfi", which was a social club for Menfi emigrants and their families. On April 16, 1927, "The Flower of Menfi", described as "an organization of young men in Brooklyn", publically sent a telegram to Governor Fuller asking for clemency in the openly anti-Italian American trial of Sacco and Vanzetti. http://rdas-proxy.mercy.edu:2103/pqdweb?index=9&did=97231417&SrchMode=2&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1317448836&clientId=10766
Main sights
- A tower (Torre Federiciana), remain of a medieval castle built by Frederick II of HohenstafenFrederick II, Holy Roman EmperorFrederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
in 1238, perhaps over an Arab fortification. - Chiesa Madre ("Mother Church"), built in the 18th century but destroyed by an earthquake in 1968. It has been later rebuilt.
- Church of St. Joseph (1715).
Remains of an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
prehistoric settlement have been found in the 1980s outside the town.
Twin towns
CanelliCanelli
Canelli is a comune of 10,440 inhabitants in the Province of Asti in the Italian region of Piedmont....
, Italy, since 1997 Chivilcoy
Chivilcoy
Chivilcoy is a city in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, the head town of the Chivilcoy Partido. It has 60,762 inhabitants according to the ....
, Argentina, since 1999 Ettlingen
Ettlingen
Ettlingen is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, about south of the city of Karlsruhe. Ettlingen is the second largest town in the district of Karlsruhe, after Bruchsal.-Geography:...
, Germany, since 2004