Licodia Eubea
Encyclopedia
Licodia Eubea is a town and comune
in the province of Catania
, on the island of Sicily
. It is bounded by the comuni of Caltagirone
, Chiaramonte Gulfi
, Giarratana
, Grammichele
, Mazzarrone
, Mineo
, Monterosso Almo
and Vizzini
. It rises over an internal hilly area, 630 meters above the sea-level.
Situated above a hill overlooking the valley of the Dirillo
river, Licodia Eubea boasts a rich production of olives, almonds, citrus fruits, and excellent table grapes, that can be tasted during the annual Sagra dell'Uva (Grapes' festival) held in the month of September. Cattle breeding, as well as horse, sheep, and goat farms, are flourishing, not to mention the production of absolutely delicious typical Sicilian cheeses.
Beautiful to visit are the Chiesa Madre dedicated to S. Margherita, erected during the 17th century, preserving the emblem of the Santapau family on its front portal, the Chiesa del Rosario of the 18th century, and the Palazzo Municipale (Town Hall building).
The name Eubea was given to the place in 1872, to identify with the Greek
city of Eubea, the colony of Leontini, founded early in the 6th century BC on the same site of an unknown Sicel
settlement. Vases of the First Period were found and all the tombs explored in 1898 belonged to the Fourth Period (700-500 BCE), and show the gradual process of Hellenization
among the Sicels.
In 1392, the ancient castle was bestowed to the Santapau family, that gave it its name and owned it until the 16th century, when it passed under the dominion of lord Vincenzo Ruffo. In 1693
, the town was devastated by the earthquake, and experienced a slow reconstruction.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in 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...
, on the island of 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,...
. It is bounded by the comuni of Caltagirone
Caltagirone
Caltagirone is a town and comune in the province of Catania, on the island of Sicily, about 70 km southwest of Catania. It is bounded by the comuni of Acate, Gela, Grammichele, Licodia Eubea, Mazzarino, Mazzarrone, Mineo, Mirabella Imbaccari, Niscemi, Piazza Armerina, San Michele di...
, Chiaramonte Gulfi
Chiaramonte Gulfi
Chiaramonte Gulfi is a town and comune in the province of Ragusa, Sicilia, Italy. As of 2007 Chiaramonte Gulfi had an estimated population of 8,035.-Geography:...
, Giarratana
Giarratana
Giarratana is a town and comune in the province of Ragusa, Sicily, southern Italy....
, Grammichele
Grammichele
Grammichele ; Latin: Echetla; Medieval: Occhiolà) is a town and comune in the province of Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is located at the feet of the Hyblaean Mountains, some 13 km from Caltagirone.-History:...
, Mazzarrone
Mazzarrone
Mazzarrone is a comune in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 160 km southeast of Palermo and about 70 km southwest of Catania....
, Mineo
Mineo
Mineo is a town and comune in the Province of Catania, part of the Sicily region in southern Italy. It lies 64 km southwest of Catania, 56 km from Ragusa, 54 km from Gela, and 22 km from Caltagirone. There are approximately 5600 citizens living there.It serves as the center...
, Monterosso Almo
Monterosso Almo
Monterosso Almo is a comune in the province of Ragusa, Sicilia, Italy. As of December 2006, Monterosso Almo had an estimated population of 3,343....
and Vizzini
Vizzini
Vizzini is a town and comune in the province of Catania, on the island of Sicily. It is located 60 km from Catania in the Hyblaean Mountains, on the most northwesterly slopes of Monte Lauro....
. It rises over an internal hilly area, 630 meters above the sea-level.
Situated above a hill overlooking the valley of the Dirillo
Dirillo
The Dirillo, or Acate, is a river in Sicily which springs from the Hyblaean Mountains and flows through the areas of Vizzini, Licodia Eubea, Mazzarrone, Chiaramonte Gulfi, Acate, Vittoria, Gela. It enters the Strait of Sicily south-east of the town of Gela...
river, Licodia Eubea boasts a rich production of olives, almonds, citrus fruits, and excellent table grapes, that can be tasted during the annual Sagra dell'Uva (Grapes' festival) held in the month of September. Cattle breeding, as well as horse, sheep, and goat farms, are flourishing, not to mention the production of absolutely delicious typical Sicilian cheeses.
Beautiful to visit are the Chiesa Madre dedicated to S. Margherita, erected during the 17th century, preserving the emblem of the Santapau family on its front portal, the Chiesa del Rosario of the 18th century, and the Palazzo Municipale (Town Hall building).
History
The name Licodia derives from the Arab term Al-kudia, that means "rupe" (rock) because the first inhabited center rose in the surroundings of an ancient castle situated over a rock. The suburb belonged to lord Riccardo Filangieri, and was afterwards bestowed to nobleman Manfredi Aragona.The name Eubea was given to the place in 1872, to identify with the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
city of Eubea, the colony of Leontini, founded early in the 6th century BC on the same site of an unknown Sicel
Sicels
The Sicels were an Italic people who inhabited ancient Sicily. The Sicels gave Sicily the name it has held since antiquity, but they rapidly fused into the culture of Magna Graecia.-History:...
settlement. Vases of the First Period were found and all the tombs explored in 1898 belonged to the Fourth Period (700-500 BCE), and show the gradual process of Hellenization
Hellenization
Hellenization is a term used to describe the spread of ancient Greek culture, and, to a lesser extent, language. It is mainly used to describe the spread of Hellenistic civilization during the Hellenistic period following the campaigns of Alexander the Great of Macedon...
among the Sicels.
In 1392, the ancient castle was bestowed to the Santapau family, that gave it its name and owned it until the 16th century, when it passed under the dominion of lord Vincenzo Ruffo. 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...
, the town was devastated by the earthquake, and experienced a slow reconstruction.