Polizzi Generosa

Polizzi Generosa (Sicilian: Pulizzi) is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Palermo on the island of Sicily, southern Italy. The town sits in the hills at 917 metres (3,009 ft) above sea level.

Polizzi Generosa
Comune
Comune di Polizzi Generosa
Coat of arms
Location of Polizzi Generosa
Polizzi Generosa Location of Polizzi Generosa in Italy Polizzi Generosa Polizzi Generosa (Sicily)
Coordinates: 37°48′43″N 14°00′14″E
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Metropolitan city	Palermo (PA)
Frazioni	Contrada Case Alberì
Government
• Mayor	Gandolfo Librizzi
Area
• Total	134.66 km2 (51.99 sq mi)
Elevation	917 m (3,009 ft)
Population  (1 January 2021)
• Total	3,045
• Density	23/km2 (59/sq mi)
Demonym	Polizzani
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	90028
Dialing code	0921
Patron saint	Gandolfo da Binasco
Saint day	Third sunday of September
Website	Official website

Hermitage of San Gandolfo.

History

The site of Polizzi shows signs of human occupation dating to the 6th century BC, with archaeological finds including coins from Himera, Carthaginian remains and a Hellenistic necropolis. In the 4th century it was a Carthaginian fortress occupied by mercenaries from Campania.

The town probably developed as a population centre in the late Middle Ages, growing around the castle built by the Norman Count of Sicily Roger I in 1076.

People

People with connections to Polizzi Generosa include:

• Fashion designer Domenico Dolce, one half of the Dolce & Gabbana clothing company, was born in the town and move to Milan with his parents to start the fashion house.
• The writer, journalist and literary critic Giuseppe Antonio Borgese originally came from the town.
• The writer, Carol Lunetta Cianca, was born here in 1898. At 100 years of age she published an acclaimed autobiography that described the back story of her undercover experiences on behalf of the United States during World War II.
• Catholic cardinal Mariano Rampolla was born in Polizzi Generosa. When Leo XIII died in 1903, it was widely expected that Rampolla would be elected pope. His candidacy gained momentum until the last moment when the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I imposed the veto jus exclusivae during the conclave.
• Director Martin Scorsese's paternal grandparents emigrated from Polizzi Generosa. Scorsese is considered one of the most important film directors.
• Filmmaker and musician Antonia Scarpa's family also came from the town.
• Character actor Vincent Schiavelli moved to the town, where his grandfather lived, for the final years of his life. Schiavelli was also a food and cookbook writer who wrote about Polizzi Generosa and his roots in Many Beautiful Things: Stories and Recipes from Polizzi Generosa. He was also buried there when he died.
• Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to fly in space, was awarded honorary citizenship of Polizzi Generosa.
• Vincenzo Sellaro, MD was born in Polizzi Generosa and in 1905 founded the Order of the Sons of Italy in America in Little Italy, New York. Today, this organization is known as the Order of the Sons and Daughters of Italy in America and is the oldest organization supporting Italian Immigrants and Italian Heritage in America.

Sources

• Maggio, Theresa (2002). The Stone Boudoir: Travels Through The Hidden Villages of Sicily. New York.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

• Cutuli, Carmelo. Vincenzo Sellaro and the Sons of Italy in America. ISBN 9798873018444.

External links

• Extracted Civil Records