Grammichele
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Comune di Grammichele | |
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Municipal coat of arms |
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Country | 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 | |
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.
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