Giarre

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Giarre
Comune
Comune di Giarre

Coat of arms
Giarre
Location of Giarre in Italy
Coordinates: 37°44′N 15°11′E / 37.733°N 15.183°E / 37.733; 15.183
Country Italy
Region Sicily
Province Catania (CT)
Frazioni Altarello, Carruba, Macchia, Miscarello, San Giovanni Montebello, San Leonardello, Santa Maria la Strada, Sciara, Trepunti
Government
 • Mayor Concetta Sodano (since May 27, 2003)
Area
 • Total 27 km2 (10 sq mi)
Elevation 81 m (266 ft)
Population (2010)
 • Total 27,785
 • Density 1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Demonym Giarresi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 95014, 95010
Dialing code 095
Patron saint St. Isidore the Labourer
Saint day 10 May
Website Official website

Giarre (Sicilian: Giarri) is an Italian town and comune on the east coast of Sicily in the province of Catania. As of 2010 its population was of 27,785.[1]

History

Some historians suppose that the ancient Greek city of Kallipolis was situated in the same territory of the present-day town of Giarre, but nowadays there is no relevant proof of it.

Since the late 16th century until 1815 Giarre was a village of the county of Mascali.

During the fascist era Giarre was joined to Riposto under the name of Jonia, but separated again in 1945.

Geography

Giarre is bounded by the municipalities of Acireale, Mascali, Milo, Riposto, Sant'Alfio, Santa Venerina and Zafferana Etnea. It forms a conurbation with the coastal town of Riposto.

Its frazioni are Altarello, Carruba, Macchia, Miscarello, San Giovanni Montebello, San Leonardello, Santa Maria la Strada, Sciara and Trepunti.

Main sights

The Piazza Duomo

The neo-classical cathedral, begun in 1794, is dedicated to the Spaniard St. Isidore, patron of Madrid.

Other sights include:

  • Oratory of St. Filippo Neri (18th century)
  • Sanctuary of Maria Santissima della Strada, the oldest church in the town (dating to 1081). Today little remains of the original medieval structure, having been replaced by a neoclassicist edifice.
  • Museum of Uses and Customs of the Etna people
  • Mediterraneum Aquarium

Giarre has attracted attention for its numerous unfinished buildings and amenities, initiated with public money in the 1990s but never used. A small number have been converted to other uses, including a multi-storey car park; residents also see the prospect of some tourism, as the town has come to be regarded as the centre this style of urban planning.[2]

Criticism

Once famed for its wine producing hills that went down to the port below for export, Giarre now has a more negative image; the city now hosts the largest number of uncompleted public projects in the country – 25 in total, which is one for every 1,000 inhabitants.[3] Some locals are so shocked by the waste that they have proposed promoting Giarre’s excess as a tourist attraction. A hospital in the city has taken more than 30 years to build, an Olympic sized swimming pool has been sunk but not finished and the construction of a theatre that has been started and stopped 12 times are just some examples of the problems faced.[3]

Twin towns

See also

References

  1. ↑ (Italian) Source: Istat 2010
  2. ↑ Italy planning fiasco: New ruins litter Sicily (retrieved 22 May 2012)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Stephan Faris (4 October 2012). "Sicily, a Portrait of Italian Dysfunction". Business Week. 

External links

Media related to Giarre at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.