Acireale
Encyclopedia
Acireale is a coastal city and commune
in the north-east of the province of Catania
, Sicily
, Italy, at the foot of Mount Etna
, on the coast facing the Ionian Sea
. It is a diocese
, famous for its churches, including the Neo-Gothic St. Peter's Basilica, St. Sebastian's Basilica in the Sicilian Baroque
style, and the 17th century Acireale Cathedral
, and a seminary
, for the training of priests. Acireale is also noted for its art and paintings: the oldest academy in Sicily, the "Accademia dei Dafnici e degli Zelanti", is located here.
. In Ovid
's Metamorphoses
, there is a great love between Acis, the spirit of the Acis River, and Galatea the sea-nymph
. According to the mythology, the tears of Galatea after the death of Acis gave the origin to the Acis River, Fiume di Jaci, flowing the past Acireale (the ancient Akis or Acium).
In the Middle Ages, the town expanded around the castle (now part of Aci Castello
), being known as Jachium under the Byzantines
, as Al-Yāj (الياج) under the Arabs
and, later, as Aquilia. In 1169 a huge earthquake scattered much of the population towards the mainland, divided between the numerous boroughs of Aci. Another Aquilia was founded in the late 14th century further north, creating the first nucleus of the modern city. The only remains of the medieval Aquilia Nova ("New Aquilia") is the Gothic-Lombard style portal of the cathedral.
In the 16th century Emperor Charles V
freed the city from any feudal ties, creating it as a Crown commune. In the late 16th century the town had around 6,000/7,000 inhabitants. The most ancient document mentioning the Carnival of Acireale dates to 1594. The town expanded its role as a trade centre (it was granted the right to hold a Free Market or Fiera Franca), and received numerous new edifices.
Acireale was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in 1693
, which substantially halted its economical growth. During the Expedition of the Thousand
(1861) which freed Sicily from the Kingdom of Naples
, Acireale was the first town to rebel against the Bourbons. In 1941, it was bombed by the Allies, resulting in many civilian victims.
The church of San Biagio in Acireale contains some of the relics of the Venerable
Gabriele Allegra
, who entered the Franciscan
seminary there in 1918.
Villa Belvedere and Parco delle Terme, two large public parks and "La Timpa", a beautiful natural reserve overlooking the Ionian Sea
, offer great nature sights.
Piazza Duomo, with its St. Peter's Basilica, is the main square of the city. The area at the south of Piazza Duomo is the oldest section of the city. There are many beautiful historic Baroque buildings in town, such as Palazzo Pennisi and Palazzo Modò which date from the 17th century. The commercial city centre is located primarily in the streets adjacent to and including Corso Umberto and Corso Italia which are the city's principal thoroughfares.
Acireale is famous throughout Sicily for its spectacular floats, costumes, and parades during the season of carnival
, which attracts many tourists and visitors.
Commune
Commune may refer to:In society:* Commune, a human community in which resources are shared* Commune , a township or municipality* One of the Communes of France* An Italian Comune...
in the north-east of the province of Catania
Province of Catania
Catania is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy. Its capital is the city of Catania.It has an area of 3,552 km², and a total population of 1,073,881 . There are 58 comunes in the province, see Comunes of the Province of Catania...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, Italy, at the foot of Mount Etna
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently standing high, though this varies with summit eruptions; the mountain is 21 m higher than it was in 1981.. It is the highest mountain in...
, on the coast facing the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
. It is a diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, famous for its churches, including the Neo-Gothic St. Peter's Basilica, St. Sebastian's Basilica in the Sicilian Baroque
Sicilian Baroque
Sicilian Baroque is the distinctive form of Baroque architecture that took hold on the island of Sicily, off the southern coast of Italy, in the 17th and 18th centuries...
style, and the 17th century Acireale Cathedral
Acireale Cathedral
Acireale Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Acireale in Sicily, province of Catania, Italy. It was declared the seat of the Bishop of Acireale in 1870....
, and a seminary
Seminary of Acireale
Seminary of Acireale is a Roman Catholic seminary located in Acireale, Sicily in the Diocese of Acireale for the education and training of young men studying for the priesthood.- History :...
, for the training of priests. Acireale is also noted for its art and paintings: the oldest academy in Sicily, the "Accademia dei Dafnici e degli Zelanti", is located here.
History
According to the tradition, the city's origins trace back to Xiphonia, a mysterious Greek city now completely disappeared. In Roman times there existed another Greek town, Akis, which was involved in the Punic WarsPunic Wars
The Punic Wars were a series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage from 264 B.C.E. to 146 B.C.E. At the time, they were probably the largest wars that had ever taken place...
. In Ovid
Ovid
Publius Ovidius Naso , known as Ovid in the English-speaking world, was a Roman poet who is best known as the author of the three major collections of erotic poetry: Heroides, Amores, and Ars Amatoria...
's Metamorphoses
Metamorphoses (poem)
Metamorphoses is a Latin narrative poem in fifteen books by the Roman poet Ovid describing the history of the world from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar within a loose mythico-historical framework. Completed in AD 8, it is recognized as a masterpiece of Golden Age Latin literature...
, there is a great love between Acis, the spirit of the Acis River, and Galatea the sea-nymph
Acis and Galatea (mythology)
In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Acis was the spirit of the Acis River in Sicily, beloved of the nereid, or sea-nymph, Galatea . Galatea returned the love of Acis, but a jealous suitor, the Sicilian Cyclops Polyphemus, killed him with a boulder. Distraught, Galatea then turned his blood into the river...
. According to the mythology, the tears of Galatea after the death of Acis gave the origin to the Acis River, Fiume di Jaci, flowing the past Acireale (the ancient Akis or Acium).
In the Middle Ages, the town expanded around the castle (now part of Aci Castello
Aci Castello
Aci Castello is a city and comune in the Province of Catania in Sicily, Italy. The city is located 9 km north of Catania on the Mediterranean coast. The primary economic sectors are agriculture and industry...
), being known as Jachium under the Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, as Al-Yāj (الياج) under the Arabs
Emirate of Sicily
The Emirate of Sicily was an Islamic state on the island of Sicily , which existed from 965 to 1072.-First Arab invasions of Sicily:...
and, later, as Aquilia. In 1169 a huge earthquake scattered much of the population towards the mainland, divided between the numerous boroughs of Aci. Another Aquilia was founded in the late 14th century further north, creating the first nucleus of the modern city. The only remains of the medieval Aquilia Nova ("New Aquilia") is the Gothic-Lombard style portal of the cathedral.
In the 16th century Emperor Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
freed the city from any feudal ties, creating it as a Crown commune. In the late 16th century the town had around 6,000/7,000 inhabitants. The most ancient document mentioning the Carnival of Acireale dates to 1594. The town expanded its role as a trade centre (it was granted the right to hold a Free Market or Fiera Franca), and received numerous new edifices.
Acireale was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in 1693
1693 Sicily earthquake
The 1693 Sicily earthquake refers to a powerful earthquake that struck parts of southern Italy, notably Sicily, Calabria and Malta on January 11, 1693 around 9 pm local time. This earthquake was preceded by a damaging foreshock on January 9th...
, which substantially halted its economical growth. During the Expedition of the Thousand
Expedition of the Thousand
The Expedition of the Thousand was a military campaign led by the revolutionary general Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1860. A force of volunteers defeated the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, leading to its dissolution and annexation by the Kingdom of Sardinia, an important step in the creation of a newly...
(1861) which freed Sicily from the Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
, Acireale was the first town to rebel against the Bourbons. In 1941, it was bombed by the Allies, resulting in many civilian victims.
Main sights
Acireale offers a variety of leisure activities including art, nature, thermal baths, theatre, open air markets, festivals and concerts.The church of San Biagio in Acireale contains some of the relics of the Venerable
Venerable
The Venerable is used as a style or epithet in several Christian churches. It is also the common English-language translation of a number of Buddhist titles.-Roman Catholic:...
Gabriele Allegra
Gabriele Allegra
Gabriele Allegra was a Franciscan Friar and scripture scholar. He is best known for performing the first complete translation of the Catholic Bible into the Chinese language. His Studium Biblicum Translation is often considered the definitive Chinese Bible among Catholics...
, who entered the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
seminary there in 1918.
Villa Belvedere and Parco delle Terme, two large public parks and "La Timpa", a beautiful natural reserve overlooking the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
, offer great nature sights.
Piazza Duomo, with its St. Peter's Basilica, is the main square of the city. The area at the south of Piazza Duomo is the oldest section of the city. There are many beautiful historic Baroque buildings in town, such as Palazzo Pennisi and Palazzo Modò which date from the 17th century. The commercial city centre is located primarily in the streets adjacent to and including Corso Umberto and Corso Italia which are the city's principal thoroughfares.
Acireale is famous throughout Sicily for its spectacular floats, costumes, and parades during the season of carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
, which attracts many tourists and visitors.