Leonforte

Leonforte (Liunforti in sicilian) is an Italian comune with a population of 14,046[3] in the Province of Enna, Sicily. The town is situated 22 km from Enna, in the centre of the Erean Mountains at 600 metres a.s.l.

Leonforte Liunforti
Comune
Comune di Leonforte
Granfonte
Location of Leonforte
Leonforte Location of Leonforte in Italy Leonforte Leonforte (Sicily)
Coordinates: 37°38′30″N 14°23′45″E
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province	Enna (EN)
Government
• Mayor	Salvatore Barbera
Area [1]
• Total	84.39 km^2 (32.58 sq mi)
Elevation	603 m (1,978 ft)
Population  (30 November 2017)[2]
• Total	13,117
• Density	160/km^2 (400/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Leonfortesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	94013
Dialing code	0935
Patron saint	Madonna del Carmelo
Saint day	August 16
Website	Official website

History

The ancient settlement of Tabas or Tavaca stood in the approximate location of Leonforte. During the Byzantine period of Sicily, and later under the Muslim Emirate of Sicily, a castle was built with a farmhouse in its vicinity. Irrigation systems were introduced and many mills took advantage of the abundance of water. In 1610 Nicolò Placido Branciforti founded a city, naming it Leonforte in tribute to his family's coat of arms; a lion holding a banner with the motto in fortitudine bracchii tui.

Main sights

• Chiesa Madre (mother church)
• Capuchin church and convent (mausoleum that houses the sarcophagus of Princess Caterina Branciforte, who died in 1634, and a painting by Pietro Novelli, depicting The Election of Matthias to the Apostolate
• Church of Madonna del Carmelo
• Granfonte (Fountain)
• Palazzo Branciforti
• Castello di Tavi

Economy

The economy is largely based on agriculture. In the past century Leonforte has always had an agricultural economy with many labourers. This has made the town a stronghold for the political left. There are a few industries located within an industrial zone. Another important activity is construction work. Leonforte has one of the highest unemployment rates of the province, at 22%.[4] Leonforte is adjacent to the road Strada Statale 121 that connects Enna, Palermo, Nissoria, and Paternò. The train station is located 10 km from the centre of Leonforte.

References

1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
3. http://demo.istat.it/bil2015/index.html

Sources

• Giovanni Mazzola, Notizie Storiche sulla vetusta Tavaca e sulla Moderna Leonforte, Tipografia Editrice del Lavoro, 1924
• Domenico Ligresti, Leonforte: un paese nuovo, in «Archivio Storico per la Sicilia Orientale» a. LXXIV, 1978, I pp. 89–118