Alessandria della Rocca is a small town of 5,000 inhabitants whose main resource is constituted from the cultivation of olive groves and almond orchards that copronola surrounding valley. In ancient times the natural resources of the area have favored the settlement of Sican populations, whose presence is testified by a large archaeological heritage consists mainly of rock tombs with semi-circular or rectangular openings that extend between Cozzo Grotticelle and Mount Lurdichella. The foundation of the city center took place in 1570 thanks to Charles Barresi and originally its name was Alexandria of Sicily. He took its present name in 1862 from the church of Santa Maria della Rocca which is next to a massive cliff about a kilometer from the town. Legend has it that on this cliff to a commoner intent to pick vegetables is Our Lady appeared pointing to dig just where he stood. It was found a statue of the Virgin dating from the sixth century that the land owner saw fit to appropriate to expose it in its own building in Palermo. The anger of the people forced to desist from its noble intent and not just to give the statue, but also to build the present Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rock on the spot where it had happened the prodigious discovery, destination of many believers today.

Monuments to visit

The town has a regular arrangement, determined by two axes that intersect, forming rectangular blocks. In the square matrix is the Mother Church of the seventeenth century., Dedicated to Santa Maria del Pilar. A nice table of pale stone has the Church of Carmel.

Leaving the village, to the south, after about 1 Km, you arrive at the aforementioned Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Rocca.