The town was founded in 1605 by Luigi Arias Giardina, with Philip III's leave, and laid out with streets in concentric circles that all end in the square. On 15 January 1968 the Belice earthquake brought almost all of it down: the houses were of tufa and mortar, without a thread of reinforced concrete.
The aftershocks carried away roads, bridges and power lines, and for days the town was cut off; thousands of people ended up in tents, down on the plain. Santa Ninfa was then rebuilt to anti-seismic standards, but keeping the old layout. Few of the old palaces are still standing: among them Palazzo Mauro, with its five doorways and triglyphs. There are 5,095 residents.
Nocellara del Belice · Arancina · Pasta alla Norma
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Next up: Saint Nympha, patron of a town founded with the Spanish king's permission, Thursday 12 November
Nearest airport: Trapani Birgi, 38 km away
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📅 Every year, on 12 November
Santa Ninfa celebrates its patron saint on 12 November; the town was founded in 1606 by Luigi Arias Giardina, with the approval of King Philip III of Spain, near the castle of Rampinzeri, where remains of an ancient Sican necropolis have been found.
A large, green olive with firm flesh and a buttery flavour: Nocellara del Belice, sold in America as «Castelvetrano olive», has held DOP status since 1998.
Read more →Saffron rice, ragù with peas and caciocavallo cheese inside a golden crust. Round and feminine in Palermo, pointed and called arancino in Catania: the quarrel is serious.
Read more →Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Outside Santa Ninfa, but an easy day trip away.
