Collesano Sicily

Updated May 21, 2025

Collesano is an ancient village first settled by Arabs in the 10^th century BC. The original name of the village was Qal’at assirat meaning “a rock on the street”. The name Collesano has an uncertain etymology. Medieval sources record it as “Golisano” or “Gulisano” which might be the dialect word ulisanise. Later Gulisano was translated into “Colle sano” or “sound hill”.

Collesano’s current population is about 4,000. It’s famous for its ceramic artwork, a cheese festival and Mystery Plays, a procession organized every year in Holy Week

In the 12th century the Normans erected a typical feudal castle. Once a vital part of the city’s defenses, the castle’s ruins can be seen rising above the northern side of the town.

Sicily was inhabited by three indigenous tribes: the Elymians, the Sicani, and the Siculi who gave their name to the island.

The Phoenicians settled western Sicily in the 11^th century BC and founded Palermo.

The ancient Greeks arrived in Sicily around 750 BC.

Rome and Carthage fought over control of Sicily about 264 BC. The Romans eventually won, and Sicily became the first overseas Roman province. Little effort was made to “Romanize” the region. The island’s language and culture remained primarily Greek.

In AD 827 Sicily was conquered by the Arabs. During Arab rule, the population was allowed to keep its Christian religion. In exchange for this favor, Sicilians had to pay an additional tax.

In the second half of the 11th century, the Normans conquered Sicily.

In 1266 Charles of Anjou, the younger brother of King Louis IX of France was crowned King of Sicily meaning the island came under French rule.

In 1282 a successful rebellion broke out against the French helped by the Spanish who then claimed the Sicilian throne.

Beginning about 1720, Sicily was ruled successively by the House of Savoy, the Austrian Hapsburgs, and the Bourbons. But never Napoleon since the British used the island as a base operations against him.

Finally, under Giuseppe Garibaldi, Sicily became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.