1. Municipality of Castellana Sicula ITALY Back to the Future - March 2008

4. Castellana Sicula is located at 100 kilometres from Palermo (the capital of Sicily). It counts about 3.600 inhabitants, with a prevalence of women (about 1.900 units). Back to the Future - March 2008

5. Population Back to the Future - March 2008

6. Schools in Castellana 1 Middle school; 2 Nursery schools; 1 Primary school; 1 Superior Institute of Agricultural Studies. Back to the Future - March 2008

7. Youth organisations One no profit organisation managed by church representatives; 3 Cultural origanisations; 2 youth no profit organisations, managed by young people living in Castellana Sicula. Back to the Future - March 2008

8. Critical state of the present social situation General population ageing; High rates of unemployment, above all of youth and women; High level of immigration (caused by unemployment); Financial weakening of Municipalities; Diffuse “parish quarrel”: each municipality acts as a single, and not in network with the other municipalities. Back to the Future - March 2008

9. Positive aspects Cultural, historical and anthropological heritage (famous at regional and national level); Very important landscape, natural resources and architectural goods; Very good gastronomic specialities and local sweets; Numerous folkloristic and religious events. Back to the Future - March 2008

10. Historical information Castellana Sicula became an autonomous municipality in 1948 (it was an administrative division of another municapility for 200 years); During the 1700, peasants of the land established their houses in the Castellana land thank to its good climate conditions and landscape properties. Back to the Future - March 2008

11. The name of Castellana Sicula was done by the feudatory of the period, Duke of Ferrandina, because of his wife origin: she came from the royal family Castellana of Spain. Back to the Future - March 2008

12. Religious event One of the main religious event in Castellana is represented by the pilgrimage to the shrine of Madonna dell’Alto (that is, a Madonna shrine located on the top of a high mountain). The pilgrimage occurs each first Sunday of July. Back to the Future - March 2008

13. The legend tells that the Madonna statue was discovered in the sicilian sea costs in 1471. It was loaded in a ox cart. In principle, it was decided to put the statue in a small church of a close village. But, during the way, the ox went on without any pauses, and stop its way just in the top of the high mountain. So, people decided to establish the shrine there, and no more in the small church selected before. Back to the Future - March 2008

14. Archeological goods Castellana has some important archeological goods, such as: a roman necropolis, country houses, and a particular building similar to roman thermae. History tells that during the 70 B.C. Cicerone visited the land in order to verify the social condition of sicilian peasants and servants. Back to the Future - March 2008

15. Natural Park of Madonie Castellana is one of the 15 municipalities within the Park of Madonie, one of the most important Park in Italy and Europe. Here we can find the “abete dei Nebrodi” (Abies nebrodensis), a particular tree, unique exemplar in the world. This exemplar each year attracts researchers and scientists from all the world. Back to the Future - March 2008