Recovery plan of the historical centre of Palma di Montechiaro

• Palma di Montechiaro

• 27 km. far from Agrigento

• 24.895 inhabitants

• 7.636 hectares

• population density: 326 inhabitants/km2

• 165 m above the sea-level

• The town was named Palma by Duke Carlo De Caro, who founded it in 1637, to honor his family's emblem represented by a palm tree, symbol of glory. Throughout the XVII century, the suburb belonged to the De Caro princes, until it passed through matrimony to the Lords Tomasi of Pelagie (Lampedusa and Linosa). In 1812 the town achieved its independence. The appositive "Montechiaro" was added in 1863 only, because of the proximity of the homonymous castle of the Chiaramonte family.

• The most outstanding monuments are the XVII century Palazzo Ducale, the neo-classic style Chiesa del SS. Rosario, the Chiesa Madre, that beholds the tomb of the astronomer Giovanni B. Odierna (1579-1660), the Benedictine Monastery of Maria SS. del Rosario, and the Torre di S. Carlo, that has been erected during the XVII century by Prince Carlo Tomasi of Lampedusa.