Aspra, Sicily


Aspra is a town in the comune of Bagheria in the Province of Palermo in Sicily, Italy.
A village within the municipality of Bagheria, approximately of 3700 inhabitants, by the sea at the East end of the Palermo's Gulf facing the capital city of Sicily. This small village is well known for its Lungomare and its ice-cream production that’s made following an old tradition. Typical are the wooden boats vividly colored. The first traces of the town are thought to belong to the period of Arabic domination in Sicily, as it is suspected that the name comes from the Arabic حجر. Aspra was in fact, for generations, used to cave out blocks of calcarenite. The territory of Aspra goes from the Montagna d'Aspra, which is the name of the mountain near the town with the tops of Monte Irice, Cozzo San Pietro and Cozzo Tondo. The mountain extends in a promontory. Continuing towards Esto est, passing Mongerbino, is possible to reach Porticello. West Aspra ends following the profile of the river Eleuterio. Aspra was part of the land of the nobility of Marquis of Sant'Isidoro of which now remain a villa and the land of the Church of Aspra. Notable are the alfrescos by Renato Guttuso in the church, the seaside, and "u rittufilu". Aspra was also the favourite retirement place of the poet Ignazio Buttitta and where the Italian aeronautical hero of World War II Francesco Tempra grew up.
Fishing is the primary economic activity of the town, with local anchovies being exported worldwide.