Racalmuto

Racalmuto is a mountain commune in the Province of Agrigento on the island of Sicily. The town spreads across 68 square kilometers at an elevation of 455 meters above sea level.

The name comes from Arabic, meaning either 'village of death' from raḥl mawt or 'Hammoud's village' from raḥl Ḥammūd. This linguistic heritage reflects the long Arabic presence in Sicily during the medieval period.

Leonardo Sciascia, a writer who explored Sicilian society deeply, was born here and spent much of his life in this town. His works remain closely tied to the local identity and continue to shape how people understand the place.

The municipal office at Via Vittorio Emanuele 15 handles administrative services and can be reached by phone or email. The town has about 8,300 residents and is situated in a hilly area worth considering when planning a visit.

In Hamilton, Ontario, a street in the Little Italy district was named Corso Racalmuto to honor immigrants who migrated there from this town. This connection reflects the historical migration pattern from the region to North America.

Location: Free municipal consortium of Agrigento

Inception: 1038

Capital city: Racalmuto

Elevation above the sea: 455 m

Shares border with: Bompensiere, Favara, Grotte, Milena, Montedoro, Canicattì, Castrofilippo

Website: http://comune.racalmuto.ag.it

GPS coordinates: 37.40833,13.73472

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:02