Riesi
| Riesi | |
|---|---|
| Comune | |
| Comune di Riesi | |
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 Riesi
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| Coordinates: 37°17′N 14°5′E / 37.283°N 14.083°ECoordinates: 37°17′N 14°5′E / 37.283°N 14.083°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Province / Metropolitan city | Caltanissetta (CL) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Salvatore Chiantia (Democratic Party (Italy)) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 66.6 km2 (25.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 330 m (1,080 ft) |
| Population (Dec. 2004) | |
| • Total | 11,678 |
| • Density | 180/km2 (450/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Riesini |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 93016 |
| Dialing code | 0934 |
| Patron saint | Madonna Santissima della Catena |
| Saint day | second Sunday in September |
| Website | Official website |
Riesi is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Caltanissetta in the Italian region Sicily, located about 110 kilometres (68 mi) southeast of Palermo and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Caltanissetta. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 11,678 and an area of 66.6 square kilometres (25.7 sq mi).
Riesi borders the following municipalities: Barrafranca, Butera, Mazzarino, Pietraperzia, Ravanusa, Sommatino.
Riesi was founded in the 13th century. In the period of Arab rule over the island, the area was called "abandoned place" or "fallow".
Until the 1920s, many of the city's inhabitants worked in the nearby sulphur mines Trabbia and Tallarita. The owners of the mine greatly exploited the impoverished population. Many families had to let their children work in the mines as indentured servants in order to survive. As you enter the city today, there is a large memorial commemorating the sufferings of the miners.
In 1961, the Waldensian minister Tullio Vinay founded the "Servizio Cristiano" (Christian service) to fight poverty. In the beginning, the key aims were to promote literacy among children and teenagers and later initiatives to promote agriculture and vocational training. Today, the Waldensian church operates a kindergarten, an elementary school, a guest house, a family health centre, and a small farm.
Riesi suffers from strong organized crime. It is the hometown of the notorious Mafia boss Giuseppe Di Cristina. Every year, conflicts within the Mafia lead to casualties. In the spring of 2006, President Giorgio Napolitano dismissed the mayor and the city council from their offices because of evidence for links to organized crime. Until a new election of the city council in 2008 and also in past periods, the city has was governed provisionally by the regional government in Palermo.
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Wikipedia