Tampa's Sicilian Genealogy: Alessandria della Rocca

The community of Alessandria della Rocca is tucked away in the heartland of Sicily in the province of Agrigento. It’s located about 70 miles south east of Palermo and about 35 miles northwest of Agrigento.

Although colonization dates back to the New Stone Age, the town was first named by Don Carlo Blasco Barresi in 1570. Originally named Alessandro della Pietra, it’s named is derived from Alessandro Presti, the governor or lord of the land and the the Castello della Pietra d’Amico, a Castle built into a rock located nearby. The name changed to Alessandria della Rocca about 1862 to honor Our Lady of the Rock, the patron saint of the country.