Militello in Val di Catania
Encyclopedia
Militello in Val di Catania (Sicilian
: Militeddu) is a comune
(municipality) in the province of Catania
in the Italian
region Sicily
, located about 160 km southeast of Palermo
and about 35 km southwest of Catania
, on the last slopes of the Iblean Mountains. It has a railways station on the line Catania-Gela.
foundation, the first mention of Militello dates from 1000 AD, when it became a marquisate under the Cammarana.
The golden age of Militello was during the early 17th century, under the government of Prince Francesco Branciforte. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693
, but the subsequent restoration added numerous architectural and artistic works of art.
, Militello has been inscribed in the UNESCO
World Heritage Site
s List. Its main artistical attractions include:
Sicilian language
Sicilian is a Romance language. Its dialects make up the Extreme-Southern Italian language group, which are spoken on the island of Sicily and its satellite islands; in southern and central Calabria ; in the southern parts of Apulia, the Salento ; and Campania, on the Italian mainland, where it is...
: Militeddu) is a comune
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:...
(municipality) 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...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region 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,...
, located about 160 km southeast of Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
and about 35 km southwest of Catania
Catania
Catania is an Italian city on the east coast of Sicily facing the Ionian Sea, between Messina and Syracuse. It is the capital of the homonymous province, and with 298,957 inhabitants it is the second-largest city in Sicily and the tenth in Italy.Catania is known to have a seismic history and...
, on the last slopes of the Iblean Mountains. It has a railways station on the line Catania-Gela.
History
Despite remains of prehistorical settlements and legends of a RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
foundation, the first mention of Militello dates from 1000 AD, when it became a marquisate under the Cammarana.
The golden age of Militello was during the early 17th century, under the government of Prince Francesco Branciforte. The city was 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...
, but the subsequent restoration added numerous architectural and artistic works of art.
Main sights
Together with other cities of the Val di NotoVal di Noto
Val di Noto is a geographical area of south east Sicily; it is dominated by the limestone Iblean plateau.-The Val di Noto in the Arts:...
, Militello has been inscribed in the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
s List. Its main artistical attractions include:
Churches
- Mother Church of San Nicolò and Santissimo Salvatore (18th century)
- Santa Maria la Vetere, with a 1506 portal by Antonello GaginiAntonello GaginiAntonello Gagini was an Italian sculptor of the Renaissance, mainly active in Sicily and Calabria.Antonello was a member of a family of sculptors and artisans, originally from Northern Italy, but active throughout Italy, including Genoa, Florence, and Rome. The family includes his father, Domenico...
- Madonna della Catena (17th century), with a 16th century niche
- Abbey of San Benedetto (17th century)
- Sant'Antonio da Padova, with a bell tower from 1719
- Santa Maria della Stella (18th century)
- Santissimi Angeli Custodi late 18th century, with a precious ceramics pavement
Palaces
- Barresi Branciforte Castle, with the Fountain of the Nymph Zizza (17th century)
- Palazzo Baldanza-Denaro (17th century)
- Palazzo Niceforo (18th century)
- Palazzo Baldanza (19th century)
- Palazzo Majorana della Nicchiara
- Palazzo Tineo
- Palazzo Reburdone
- Palazzo Reina