Mayor Emilio Messana of Racalmuto, Sicily Welcome Mayor Eisenberger
Hamilton, ON – June 30th 2016 – Following the visit to our City this past September, an invitation from Mayor Emilio Messana of Racalmuto, Sicily and Augusto De Panfilis, Head of Tourism and Pasquale Franciosa, Mayor of Pettorano sul Gizio, in the Region of Abruzzo was extended to Mayor Eisenberger to visit their cities this summer.
Some thirty years ago, then Mayor Bob Morrow and City Councillor Vince Agro travelled to the town of Racalmuto to join our two cities in friendship. In 1985 Sindaco Calogero Sardo and Mayor Bob Morrow signed official documents twinning the two cities.
This ancient Sicilian town has been an international crossroads for centuries. Today there are over 25,000 Hamiltonians of Racalmutese ancestry living in the City. A portion of Murray St W is known as Corso Racalmuto in honour of the Racalmutesi who lived in the area.
In 1992 the City of Hamilton was also twinned with the following municipalities in the Region of Abruzzo: Pettorano sul Gizio, Sulmona, Pratola Peligna, Introdacqua, Pacentro, Gagliano Aterno, Castiglione a Casauria and Villetta Barrea. These municipalities are nestled within the Apennine Mountains, and are the birthplace of thousands of Hamiltonians.
Accompanied by a small contingent of cultural, business, educational and Labour representatives from Hamilton, this July Mayor Eisenberger will visit the Region of Abruzzo and Racalumto, Sicily to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of our twinning and explore possible trade and cultural exchanges with our two cities and towns.