Cinisi (; ) is a town and a ''
comune
A (; : , ) is an administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions () and provinces (). The can also have the City status in Italy, titl ...
'' in the
Metropolitan City of Palermo
The Metropolitan City of Palermo (; ) is a metropolitan city in Sicily, Italy. Its capital is the city of Palermo. It replaced the province of Palermo and comprises the city of Palermo and 82 other ''comuni'' (: ''comune''). It has 1,194,439 in ...
in
Sicily
Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...
. As of 1 January 2022 it has a population of 11.846.
Geography
The town is part of the
Palermo metropolitan area, borders with the municipalities of
Carini and
Terrasini and count the civil parish (''
frazione
A ''frazione'' (: ''frazioni'') is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' ('municipality') in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist era (1922–1943) as a way to consolidat ...
'') of
Punta Raisi, seat of
Palermo Airport. It is from
Palermo
Palermo ( ; ; , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The ...
centre, from
Trapani
Trapani ( ; ; ) is a city and municipality (''comune'') with 54,887 inhabitants, on the west coast of Sicily, in Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Trapani. Founded by Elymians, the city is still an important fishing port and the mai ...
and from
Alcamo
Alcamo (; ) is the fourth-largest town and communes of Italy, commune of the Province of Trapani, Sicily, with a population of 44.925 inhabitants. It is on the borderline with the Metropolitan City of Palermo at a distance of about 50 kilometr ...
.
Climate
Culture
Cinisi's cultural life revolves significantly around its central piazza, which serves as the location of communal activities. The town square hosts various events, from concerts and festivals to activities for both children and adults. Events held in the area include:
* Carnivale parade: The annual Carnivale features elaborately themed papier-mâché floats created by local citizens. These floats compete for the most impressive design and theme, and the event includes parades, DJ and BBQ/food floats, and dance performances along the main street "Corso Umberto I". The Carnivale's attendees occupy the town in elaborate costumes and masks. The festivities traditionally begin with "Lu Nannu (Grandpa)", a symbolic figure of the Carnivale, being paraded from the train station to the town center, accompanied by majorettes, drummers, and a marching band. On the final day, the floats are judged, and the creators of the best float receive a cash award, and the funeral of ''lu nannu'' is held (previously an effigy was burnt).
* Summer festivals: In the Summer, the piazza often becomes a venue for music festivals and concerts, where local and regional artists perform, providing entertainment for the community and tourists.
* Festival of the Madonna del Furi: Another event held locally is the celebration of the Madonna del Furi, featuring religious processions and festivities.
Giuseppe Impastato
Famous anti-mafia activist
Giuseppe Impastato
Giuseppe "Peppino" Impastato (; January 5, 1948 – May 9, 1978), was an Italian political activist who opposed the Mafia, which ordered his murder in 1978.
Childhood
Giuseppe "Peppino" Impastato was born in Cinisi, in the then province of ...
was assassinated in Cinisi by the Mafia in 1978. Today, his boyhood home can be found on the main street of Cinisi, Corso Umberto I, and is open to tourists. The house displays evidence and tells the interesting and significant story of Impastato, or "Peppino", as some knew him, in his final years as he fought the Mafia. Cinisi also has landmarks and places related to Impastato's life that attract many school groups and writers.
Demographics
*Note: 2007 estimation by ''
The World Gazetteer''.
Transport
The
Falcone-Borsellino Airport of
Palermo
Palermo ( ; ; , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The ...
, also known as ''Punta Raisi'', is located in its municipal territory. Cinisi counts a pair of train stations (
Cinisi-Terrasini on the
Palermo-Trapani line and
Punta Raisi, served by the
Palermo metropolitan railway service) and is served by the
A29 motorway.
Personalities
*
Giovanni Meli (1740–1815), Sicilian poet.
*
Gaetano Badalamenti
Gaetano Badalamenti (; 14 September 1923 – 29 April 2004) was a powerful member of the Sicilian Mafia. ''Don Tano'' Badalamenti was the capofamiglia of his hometown Cinisi, Sicily, and headed the Sicilian Mafia Commission in the 1970s. In 1 ...
(1923–2004), leading Mafia figure held responsible for the murder of Giuseppe Impastato.
*
Giuseppe Impastato
Giuseppe "Peppino" Impastato (; January 5, 1948 – May 9, 1978), was an Italian political activist who opposed the Mafia, which ordered his murder in 1978.
Childhood
Giuseppe "Peppino" Impastato was born in Cinisi, in the then province of ...
(1948–1978), political activist against the Mafia. The 2000 film ''
I cento passi'', dedicated to him, was filmed in Cinisi.
References
External links
{{Authority control
Municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Palermo