This essay highlights the reflections, in Sicily, during 19th century, of the contemporary European reformist debate, that turned around two themes: the application of modern agronomy and the reform of the hereditary system. In the island both these themes were taken by the "constitutional party", which, however, was shared into two factions: the one favorable to receive agronomy, led by Carlo Cottone, and the other, led by his nephew Giuseppe Ventimiglia, unfavorable to the hereditary reform. For the Writer the most important heritage of the constitutional party was the launch of the Constitution of 12th, shaped on the English one that sanctioned the end of feudalism.
Keywords: South noblesse, agronomy, reform of the hereditary system, Constitution, feudalism, Carlo Cottone.