PALAZZO
ADRIANO
Palazzo
Adriano is a town of about 3,000 set in the province of Palermo
at the foot of the Cozzo Braduscia, in the Sosio’s upper valley.
It
grew as a town in its own right when a colony from Albania settled
there sometimes around 1400s. In the early-1500s, it was granted
on emphyteusis to the brothers Obizzio and Attilio Opezinga and
successively – in the 18th century – passed to the Marquis
Adriano Notarbartolo. It fell under the ecclesiastic jurisdiction
of Agrigento in 1845, then Monreale’s and, in 1860, Piana
degli Albanesi’s Diocese.
The
town retains much of its ancient charm, that has been able to capture
celebrated filmmakers like Tornatore who here filmed scenes of his
Oscar’s Nuovo Cinema Paradiso.
It
is dotted with interesting cultural and architectonic sites. It
has two major churches, both standing on Piazza Umberto I, used
respectively by Greek and Roman Catholics.
The
Greek catholic 1500’s Maria Santissima Assunta’s church
is complete with a little staircase and preserves some interesting
canvas paintings, a 1700’s icon representing the Assumption
by Marsigli, and a 1400’s Crucifix by Marabitti.
The
Roman Chiesa di Maria Santissima del Lume, is divided into three
naves ornamented with fine vault frescoes and paintings attributed
to the Zoppo di Gangi and artists of the Gagini school.
Palazzo
Adriano boasts equally interesting naturalistic riches, begin with
the San Calogero creek, flowing in the vicinity of the town, and
the Sosio Valley designated as a Nature Reserve, of also geological
interest.
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