Randazzo

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Comune di Randazzo
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province	Catania (CT)
Mayor	Salvatore Agati (since June 10, 2003)
Elevation	765 m
Area	204 km²
Population
- Total (as of December 31, 2004)	11,287
- Density	55/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	37°53′N 14°57′E
Gentilic	Randazzesi
Dialing code	095
Postal code	95036
Frazioni	Monte la Guardia, Murazzorotto, Flascio
Patron	St. Joseph
- Day	March 19
Website: www.comune.randazzo.ct.it

Randazzo is a town of Sicily, Italy, in the province of Catania. It is situated at the Northern foot of Mount Etna, 70 km NW of Catania by rail.

It is the nearest town to the summit of Etna, and is one of the points from which the ascent may be made.

[edit] History

[edit] Main sights

• Cathedral of Santa Maria, originally built in the 13th century and several times rebuilt. The façade includes in the centre a bell tower with 4 floors, a reconstruction from the 19th century. The side portals are from the 15th-16th centuries, in Gothic-Catalan style. The right one, with ogival arches, has a little marble Madonna of Pisa school in the lunette.
• The church of San Nicola (14ht century). The façade is from the 17th century; the interior has a late-Gothic baptismal font. In the Treasury is a Procession Cross (1498) by Michele Gambino. In the square outside the church is a Statue of the Cyclops Piracmone.
• Church of San Martino. It has a 17th century façade with a 12th century frieze with figures of saints. The campanile is from the 14th century. The Reinassance interior is divided into a nave and two aisles with Tuscan order columns: it housese a Madonna delle Grazie by Vincenzo Gagini.
• Aragonese Gate
• Palazzo Lanza
• Palazzo Scala, a former Royal residence from the 12th century.
• Palazzo Finocchiaro (1509).
• The Castello Svevo ("Hohenstaufen Castle")

[edit] Family name

Randazzo is a popular Sicilian surname. Many Randazzos have come from Sicily (hailing from the city of Randazzo all the way to Palermo) to America.