Editing Alcamo (section)

== Culture ==
[[File:Casa di Ciullo d'Alcamo.jpg|thumb|left|Presumed house of [[Cielo d'Alcamo]]]]

The poet [[Cielo d'Alcamo]] (known also as "Ciullo d'Alcamo") was the author of the [[contrasto]] ''"[[Rosa fresca aulentissima]]"''.<ref name="stor" /> He wrote in vernacular in the 12th century and was from Alcamo.
Many important places of the town, such as the main square, the theatre and the Classical Lyceum founded in 1862, have been named after the famous poet.
 
[[File:Alcamo-Pupi-bjs2007-01.jpg|thumb|[[Puppet theatre]] of Alcamo]]
From the cultural point of view, in the following centuries Alcamo saw the rise of activities connected with arts such as the construction of churches and buildings, first in the [[baroque]] and then [[Renaissance]] style, with the coming of several artists of international level: painters (like [[Guglielmo Borremans]] and the very talented [[Pietro Novelli]] from [[Monreale]]), sculptors ([[Antonello Gagini]] and [[Giacomo Serpotta]]) and other various artists who embellished the town's image.

Inside the [[Castle of the Counts of Modica (Alcamo)|Castle of the Counts of Modica]] there is a [[puppet theatre]]: it has born again thanks to the engagement of Salvatore Oliveri, the grandson of the [[puppeteer|puppet master]] [[Gaspare Canino]], who worked in Alcamo for about 50 years, continuing the work of Luigi, his father.
They often give performances inside the castles or in the square.

It is also noteworthy the activity of [[Compagnia Piccolo Teatro (Alcamo)|Compagnia Piccolo Teatro]], a theatre company founded in 1976, which has seen the rise (and success) of some actors and theatre directors.

During the feasts in Alcamo there are often streets entertainers and [[pedlars]] selling sweets, [[dried fruit]] and different objects in their stands called ''"baracchelle"''.

===Museums===
Inside Alcamo churches there are several artistic works.
Apart from foreign artists, there were painters [[Giuseppe Renda]] and [[Gino Patti]]; among the living artists [[Turi Simeti]], [[Vito Bongiorno]] and [[Gisella Giovenco]]; sculptors were [[Giuseppe Bambina]], [[Pietro Montana]] and [[Nicola Rubino]].
[[File:Monumento a Cielo d'Alcamo.jpg|thumb|The monument to Cielo d'Alcamo, realized by Mariano Cassarà]]
* [[Museum of Contemporary Art of Alcamo|Museum of Contemporary Art]], located inside the [[Ex Jesuits' College]] in [[Piazza Ciullo]].
* [[Museum of Multiethnic Musical Instruments "Fausto Cannone"]]: it is located inside the [[Ex Church of Saint James of the Sword]] near the [[Castle of the Counts of Modica (Alcamo)|Castle of the Counts of Modica]] and [[Piazza della Repubblica (Alcamo)|Piazza della Repubblica]]. It hosts a collection of 202 multiethnic instruments (collected by Professor Fausto Cannone in different parts of the world) such as: [[rebab]], [[Sarinda (instrument)|sarinda]], gansira, swarpeti, [[bansuri]], [[takita]], [[marambao]], [[vojnica]] e [[iakir]].{{which lang|date=May 2020}}
* [[Sacred Art Museum]]: inside the [[Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption]]<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.chiesamadrealcamo.it/contatti.html |title=Copia archiviata |access-date= 15 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160305043051/http://www.chiesamadrealcamo.it/contatti.html |archive-date= 5 March 2016}}</ref> There are many paintings, sculptures and other works coming from the town churches, dating from the 13th century to the 20th.
*Monument to [[Cielo d'Alcamo]]: the work, realized by the sculptor Mariano Cassarà, is a faithful representation of the scene of the famous ''Contrasto'' entitled "[[Rosa fresca aulentissima]]", written in 1240 by [[Cielo d'Alcamo]], the first Italian poet who made use of ''lingua volgare''. The two bronze statues represent the poet and his beloved; it is completed by the artistic fountain made with [[Travertine]], and the coat of arms of Alcamo.
*Regional Vinotek of Western Sicily: located inside the [[Castle of the Counts of Modica (Alcamo)|Castle of the Counts of Modica]].

=== Media ===

There is a local radio, Radio Alcamo Centrale, which operates in the territory since 1976.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.radioalcamocentrale.it/storia/ |title=Radio Alcamo Centrale – Storia |access-date=18 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204193152/http://www.radioalcamocentrale.it/storia/ |archive-date=4 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The oldest periodical in Alcamo is "Il Bonifato".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.teleoccidente.it/2009/07/una-universita-ad-alcamo/3570 |title=Una università ad Alcamo |access-date=18 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217035955/http://www.teleoccidente.it/2009/07/una-universita-ad-alcamo/3570 |archive-date=17 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The networks in Alcamo are Alpa Uno (since 1976) and Video Sicilia (since 1987).

=== Music ===
[[File:Coro "Mater Dei" (Alcamo).jpg|thumb|Exhibition of the Choir "Mater Dei" inside the garden of [[Palazzo Rocca (Alcamo)|Palazzo Rocca]]]]
There are various musical associations in Alcamo:
*the ''Premiato Complesso Bandistico "Città di Alcamo"'', which is the oldest band in the [[province of Trapani]], was founded in 1880 .<ref name=banda>[http://www.bandamusicale.it/bande/italia/sicilia/trapani/alcamo/alcamo.php BandaMusicale.it – Premiato Complesso Bandistico "Città di Alcamo"]</ref> In the first years it was led by the [[baron]] [[Giuseppe Triolo]] di Sant'Anna.<ref name=banda/> In 1892, during a contest with the other Sicilian musical bands (and under the direction of the Maestro [[Raffaele Caravaglios]]), it won the honour Diploma and the golden Medal, that is why it is named ''premiato''(=prized).<ref name=banda/>
*The ''Brass Group'', has been the promoter of the "Summertime Blues Festival", which was held for various consecutive years in Piazza Ciullo and where [[blues]] singers and musicians from different parts of the world took part.<ref>[http://www.ioamolasicilia.com/summer-blues-festival-2013-winter-edition-alcamo/ Io amo la Sicilia – Summer Blues Festival 2013 Winter Edition]</ref>
*The ''Associazione Amici della Musica'' (Association of Friends of Music), founded in 1986, organizes an annual season of classical and contemporary music concerts held in Alcamo and surrounding localities. Since 1998 it has run an annual singing competition open to young opera singers of all nationalities. In 2001 the association also established the international cultural prize known as "Vissi d'Arte-Città di Alcamo". An annual prize, the "Vissi d'Arte" is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to art and society.<ref>[http://www.amicimusicaalcamo.it/ChiSiamo.html Associazione Amici della Musica – Chi Siamo]</ref>
*The ''Associazione Jacopone da Todi'', is a chorus founded in 1989: it has the objective of spreading the knowledge of holy art, in its different expressions; the director is Gaetano Stellino, a school teacher.
*The ''Coro Mater Dei'' is a musical association born in 1998 and made up of about 30 members; it has held various concerts (especially during the Christmas holidays) in Alcamo and in the province of Trapani. The chorus master is Baldo Barone.
*The ''Coro Francesca Adragna'' was founded in 2008 under the direction of the chorus master Maria Messana. It has a very varied repertory: arias from [[operetta]]s, opera melodies, church music, [[Sicilian language|Sicilian]] popular tunes and Neapolitan songs.

[[File:Summertime Blues Festival (XXI Edizione, Alcamo) 02.jpg|thumb|A live concert during XXI edition of the Summertime Blues Festival, in piazza Ciullo.]]

===Dance===
There are different school dances in Alcamo, such as: 
*Whisky a Gogò: it has organized for 20 years the ''Concorso Nazionale coreografico Danzalcamo'': [[Sara Renda]], the ètoile at the [[Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux|Opéra National de Bordeaux]], started his career as a dancer in this school.

=== Religious traditions and folklore ===
[[File:Maria SS dei Miracoli - ALCAMO processione 2010 198.JPG|thumb|The simulacrum of [[Madonna of the Miracles]] during a traditional procession.]]
* 19 March: celebration in honour of [[Saint Joseph]] (novena and procession)
* [[Good Friday]]: procession of the Dead Jesus and [[Our Lady of Sorrow]].
* First Sunday after Easter: Feast of Jesus Christ the [[Redeemer (Christianity)|Redeemer]] (cultural and religious event).
* Second Sunday after Easter: celebration in honour of [[Saint Francis of Paola]] (cultural and religious event).
* Third Sunday after Easter: Feast of [[Patrocinio]] in honour of the [[Holy Family]] (procession and lunch with the Holy Family).
* 1 May: celebration in honour of [[Saint Joseph the Worker]] (novena and procession)
* 13 June: celebration in honour of Saint [[Anthony of Padua]] (novena and procession)
* 19–21 June: Celebration in honour of Maria Santissima dei Miracoli ([[Our Lady of Miracles|Saint Mary of Miracles]], the patron saint of Alcamo): cultural and religious events. During the feast there are a solemn procession of the Madonna's simulacrum, fireworks from the "bastione" in Piazza Bagolino and the descent of civil and political authorities to the [[Sanctuary of Madonna of Miracles]]. In the past (until 8–10 years ago) there were horse races along Corso 6 Aprile; the last two times they took place in Viale Italia.
* End of July: [[Saint Anne]]'s feast with novena, procession and cultural-recreational activities.
* 8 September ([[Nativity of Mary]]): celebrations at the [[Sanctuary of Most Holy Mary of the Height]] (Madonna dell'Alto) on the top of [[Mount Bonifato]] with dialect poems recitation and procession.
* 7–8 December: celebration in honour of Immacolata Concezione (the [[Immaculate Conception]]): novena, pastoral melodies and procession.
* ''Alcamo Christmas'' (concerts, outdoor performances, preparation of traditional Christmas cribs and pipers' passing).

=== Recreational activities ===

* July–August: ''Alcamo Estate'' ("sagras" or festivals, ''"Calici di Stelle"'', ''"Blues Festival"'', ''"Festival di Nuove Impressioni"'')
* July–August: ''Concorso Nazionale Coreografico Danzalcamo''
* Second half of August: ''"Alcart – legalità e cultura"'' (Legality and Culture) a series of events (exhibitions, seminars, music, theatre etc.).
* October: ''Concorso Internazionale per Cantanti Lirici “Città di Alcamo”'', organized since 1998 by the [[Associazione Amici della Musica (Alcamo)|Associazione Amici della Musica]] of Alcamo.
* Second or third week-end of December: ''Cortiamo'' – International Contest of short films organized since 2006 by "Segni Nuovi" (a club of cinematographic culture within the [[Saints Paul and Bartholomew's Church (Alcamo)|Church of the Saints Paul and Bartholomew]]).

=== Sport events ===

* 2–6 January: ''International Costa Gaia Trophy'' (youth soccer tournament).
* European lightweight title (professional boxing) was contested in Alcamo on 14 August 1991. Defending champion Antonio Renzo (from Calabria) stopped British challenger Paul Charters in the 11th round.

=== Local market ===

The local market in Alcamo (called ''"mercatino"'') takes place every Wednesday morning in Via Tre Santi, near Viale Italia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://aziende.virgilio.it/21155978/mercato-rionale |title=VirgilioCittà – Alcamo, Mercato Rionale |access-date=18 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216192210/http://aziende.virgilio.it/21155978/mercato-rionale |archive-date=16 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.comune.alcamo.tp.it/attachments/article/667/21-13%20calendario%20giornate%20mercatino%202013.pdf |title=Comune di Alcamo – Calendario anno 2013 delle giornate lavorative presso il mercatino settimanale del mercoledì |access-date=18 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216183815/http://www.comune.alcamo.tp.it/attachments/article/667/21-13%20calendario%20giornate%20mercatino%202013.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

[[File:Mustazzola e cuddureddi.jpg|thumb|"Mustazzola" (in front) and "cuddureddi" (behind).]]