Grammichele

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Comune di Grammichele
Coat of arms of Comune di Grammichele
Municipal coat of arms
Country Flag of Italy Italy
Region Sicily
Province Catania (CT)
Mayor Giuseppe Compagnone (since June 27, 2003)
Elevation 520 m (1,706 ft)
Area 30 km² (12 sq mi)
Population (as of January 1, 2006)
 - Total 13,145
 - Density 438/km² (1,134/sq mi)
Time zone CET, UTC+1
Coordinates 37°13′N, 14°38′E
Gentilic Grammichelesi
Dialing code 0933
Postal code 95042
Patron San Michele Arcangelo
 - Day May 8
Website: www.comune.grammichele.ct.it

Grammichele (Greek: Echetle (meaning "plowshare"); Latin: Echetla; Medieval: Occhiolà; Sicilian: Grammicheli) is a town and commune in the province of Catania in Sicily, southern Italy.

[edit] History

It was built in 1693, after the destruction by an earthquake of the old town of Occhialà. to the north; the latter, on account of the similarity of name, is generally identified with Echetla, a frontier city between Syracusan and Carthaginian territory in the time of Hiero II, which appears to have been originally a Sicel city in which Greek civilization prevailed from the 5th century onwards.

[edit] Main sights

To the east of Grammichele a cave shrine of Demeter, with fine votive terracottas, has been discovered.

[edit] Demographic evolution


This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.