Prizzi is a town and comune of 5,711 inhabitants in the Italian Metropolitan City of Palermo, on the island of Sicily. It is located 84 km (52 mi) south of the city of Palermo at an altitude of 1045 m (3,428 ft) above sea level on a hill in the upper valley of the River Sosio. Prizzi is surrounded by the comuni of Campofelice di Fitalia, Castronovo di Sicilia, Lercara Friddi, Palazzo Adriano, Vicari, and the city of Corleone.

Prizzi
Comune di Prizzi
Coat of arms of Prizzi
Location of Prizzi
Map
Prizzi is located in Italy
Prizzi
Prizzi
Location of Prizzi in Italy
Prizzi is located in Sicily
Prizzi
Prizzi
Prizzi (Sicily)
Coordinates: 37°43′N 13°26′E / 37.717°N 13.433°E / 37.717; 13.433
CountryItaly
RegionSicily
Metropolitan cityPalermo (PA)
FrazioniFilaga
Government
 • MayorComparetto Antonina
Area
 • Total
95 km2 (37 sq mi)
Elevation
1,045 m (3,428 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2010)[2]
 • Total
5,152
 • Density54/km2 (140/sq mi)
DemonymPrizzesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
90038
Dialing code091
Patron saintSt. George
Saint day23 April
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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Traces have been found of a small Elymian settlement, called Hippana or Hyppana, dating from the 8th-6th centuries BC on the nearby Montagna dei Cavalli. This settlement was later rebuilt in the 4th century BC, by Hiero I of Syracuse, and subsequently inhabited by Carthaginians, Greeks, Arabs, and Romans. Hippana has the highest altitude Greek theater known in Sicily. The ancient town of Comiciana was probably nearby. The town of Prizzi is thought to have been constructed by the refugees of a Roman invasion,[3] but it is better documented to have at least pre-existed the Saracen invasion, when it was controlled by the Byzantines prior to the Arab conquest. The name Prizzi derives from the Greek Pyrizo, meaning "incendiary"[4] as in the context of sending smoke signals, referring to its origin as an important point for fighting off enemy invaders in Sicily. The present town, of Norman origin, was a fief of Guglielmo Bonello. In 1150, it passed to the Cistercian Monastery of Sant'Angelo. Between the 13th and 15th centuries, control of the town was disputed by various lords until it finally fell to the Bonanno family, whose fief it was until 1812.

The town is known for its Easter celebration, U Ballu dei Diavoli, or, in Italian, Ballo dei Diavoli.[5]

Climate

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Climate data for Prizzi (1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.6
(45.7)
7.9
(46.2)
10.9
(51.6)
14.3
(57.7)
19.7
(67.5)
25.1
(77.2)
28.4
(83.1)
28.5
(83.3)
22.9
(73.2)
18.6
(65.5)
12.9
(55.2)
8.7
(47.7)
17.1
(62.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.1
(41.2)
5.1
(41.2)
7.4
(45.3)
10.4
(50.7)
15.2
(59.4)
20.1
(68.2)
22.9
(73.2)
23.3
(73.9)
18.6
(65.5)
15.0
(59.0)
10.1
(50.2)
6.3
(43.3)
13.3
(55.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.6
(36.7)
2.2
(36.0)
4.0
(39.2)
6.5
(43.7)
10.7
(51.3)
15.0
(59.0)
17.4
(63.3)
18.0
(64.4)
14.3
(57.7)
11.4
(52.5)
7.3
(45.1)
3.9
(39.0)
9.4
(48.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 98.8
(3.89)
76.5
(3.01)
80.3
(3.16)
66.0
(2.60)
37.8
(1.49)
21.4
(0.84)
16.0
(0.63)
24.2
(0.95)
77.9
(3.07)
102.2
(4.02)
107.5
(4.23)
111.5
(4.39)
820.1
(32.29)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 10.2 9.1 8.3 7.4 4.2 2.2 1.4 2.0 7.1 7.9 9.8 12.0 81.6
Average relative humidity (%) 77.7 74.5 69.8 64.2 59.1 52.2 51.9 53.6 66.5 70.1 75.8 78.9 66.2
Average dew point °C (°F) 0.7
(33.3)
−0.3
(31.5)
0.4
(32.7)
2.0
(35.6)
4.3
(39.7)
6.5
(43.7)
9.7
(49.5)
10.3
(50.5)
10.3
(50.5)
7.9
(46.2)
4.3
(39.7)
2.0
(35.6)
4.8
(40.7)
Source: NOAA,[6] (Dew Point for 1981-2010)[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ^ Prizzi[circular reference]
  4. ^ Istituto Geografico de Agostini, Nomi d'Italia, (ISBN 88-511-0983-4), p. 515.
  5. ^ Ballo dei Diavoli Archived 2010-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Prizzi Climate Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Prizzi Climate Normals for 1981–2010-16434" (XLS). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
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