Raccuja

Photo © Michele Palamara

Raccuja (Zip Code 98067) is 260 km. distant from Agrigento, 188 km. from Caltanissetta, 104 km. from Catania, 147 km. from Enna, 111 km. from Messina, which province it belongs to, 195 km. from Palermo, 244 km. from Ragusa, 162 km. from Siracusa, 294 km. from Trapani.

The municipality has 1.550 inhabitants and an area of 2.506 hectares for a population density of 62 inhabitants per square kilometre. It rises on an inland mountainous area and is 642 metres above sea-level.

The Town Hall is placed in piazza Municipio, tel. ++39 0941-663507 fax. +39 0941-663349.

Raccuja is placed on a fruitful valley that flanks the river Sinagra so that it has a remarkable production of hazel-nuts, olives, cereals which can be tasted in the yearly Festivals in July and September. Excellent are local dairying products which are produced from cattle, sheep and pig breedings.

Raccuja derives from Arabic Rahl "farmhouse" and Kuddia "hill" that is "farmhoouse on the hill".

We don't get many historical news about centre but it was founded during Norman domination and then it was ruled by different feudal families such as Alagonas, Orioles, Valdinas and Brancifortes and under their jurisdiction it became a county in 1552.

The most interesting monument is the Cathedral Church with a baroque front and its inside preserves three valuable XVIth-century statues ascribed to Giovan Battista Mazzolo (1513-1550).