Origin of the name "Balestrate"
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The name "Balestrate" is closely related to the term "crossbow".
In fact, it is said that originally the lands of Balestrate were known by the name Sicciara, from the Sicilian siccia, meaning cuttlefish. They were so called due to the abundance of cuttlefish that characterizes the sea. However, in 1307 the lands of the ancient Sicciara were annexed to the Municipality of Partinico. However, King Ferdinand of Aragon, with a special decree, reserved to his sovereignty the strip of land that stretched out for a so-called balestra shot, crossbow shot, between the San Cataldo torrents to the east and Calatubo to the west. This strip of land assumed the name of Balestrate.
