Avola
Avola
À(v)ula (Sicilian) | |
---|---|
Città di Avola | |
UTC+2 (CEST) | |
Postal code | 96012 |
Dialing code | 0931 |
Patron saint | Santa Venera |
Saint day | Last Sunday in July |
Website | www |
Avola (Italian:
History
The foundation of the city in an area previously inhabited by the
When the
The town became the feudal domain of the Pignatelli family.[6] Like much of south-eastern Sicily, Avola was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693, and was refounded in a new location of the coast, under the design of friar architect Angelo Italia, having a geometric and regular plan. The town of Grammichele, also destroyed by the earthquake, was also relocated and rebuilt along a hexagonal layout.
Along the main road that goes to Syracuse is situated a megalithic monument, so-called "pseudo-dolmen" because of natural origin but adapted, in the prehistory, to experimental architectural elaboration.[7]
During World War II Avola, like all of Sicily, was a hotbead of anti-Mussolini sentiment and anti-fascist sentiment more generally.[8] Because of the strongarm tactics that the Mussolini regime used to subdue Sicily, the fascist regime was very unpopular on the island, the town of Avola was no exception to this.[9] When British and American forces arrived in Sicily the Sicilians did not regard them as conquering invaders but rather greeted them as "emancipators come to lift the evil burden of fascism from their shoulders."[10][11] All across Sicily the invading forces were greeted with relief and often with unbridled enthusiasm.[12]
World War II
During World War II, Avola was the place of one of the first Allied landings during the
Modern Times
On December 3, 1968, during the time period known as the Hot Autumn,[18] Avola was the scene of an infamous massacre, when police opened fire on demonstrating day-labourers demanding the renewal of their contract.[19] Two were killed and many wounded. This scene was depicted in the film 'Il Grande Sogno'.[20]
Cuisine
The Nero d'Avola, a typical red wine of Sicily, is named after the city of Avola, where the first grafting of the vine was made, but its grapes may grow and the wine be produced in other regions of the island too.
The denomination Avola's Almond includes three different types of almond: Pizzuta, Fascionello and Romana or Corrente d'Avola. These three kinds of almond come from Avola's area. Blooming in winter, these almonds can only grow either in sea areas or on little hills, where frost rarely happens. Since Avola belongs to one of the sunniest towns in Sicily, this makes it one of the main production areas for almond.
Pizzuta and Fascionello are mainly used in the making of "Confetti", white sugared almonds, "Granita", ice slush, almond milk and other pastries, while Romana is only used for pastries and other bakery products.
Tourism
Avola is famous for its numerous wide beaches with fine golden sand and clean, shining sea. In its hilly territory there is one of the largest canyons in Europe: Cavagrande del Cassibile oriented nature reserve, where it is possible to visit enchanting small lakes.
Sights
- Chiesa Madre San Sebastiano, formerly San Nicoló
- Santa Venera
- San Giovanni Battista
- Santa Maria di Gesú
- Sant'Antonio Abate
- Santissima Annunziata and Badia (abbey)
- Santa Croce o dei Cappuccini
- Teatro Garibaldi
- Palazzo di Cittá
- Vecchio Mercato
- Torretta dell’Orologio
- Eremo di Avola Antica: ruins
- Museo Palmento e Frantoio Midolo
- Villa romana e il Dolmen
- Rotonda in bay
References
- ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Statistiche Istat" (in Italian). Retrieved 2012-04-25.
- ISBN 1-85828-874-6.
- ^ British Museum Collection
- ^ Dizionario geografico dei comuni della Sicilia e delle frazioni comunali, by Giuseppe di Vita; Editor: F Pravata, Palermo; 1906; page 20.
- ISBN 978-0956510624
- ^ The Christian Century, Volume 60 pg. 835
- ^ Sicily: An Informal History By Peter Smmartino, William Roberts pg. 111
- ^ Bitter Victory: The Battle for Sicily, 1943 by Carlo D'Este, pg. 433
- ^ Italy; an historical survey by Jack F. Bernard, published by David and Charles, 1971; pg. 476
- ISBN 978-0-19-933837-5.
- ^ La battaglia degli Iblei.
- ^ Bitter Victory: The Battle for Sicily, 1943 by Carlo D'Este, pg. 148, 245, 257, 280
- ^ Bitter Victory: The Battle for Sicily, 1943 by Carlo D'Este, pg. 148
- ^ Bitter Victory: The Battle for Sicily, 1943 by Carlo D'Este, pg. 245-246
- ^ Liberating Belsen: Remembering the Soldiers of the Durham Light Infantry By David Lowther pg. 37
- ^ "Solidarity Online | The hot autumn: How workers' revolt shook Italy". solidarity.net.au. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
- ^ "Enemies". Archived from the original on 2003-04-02. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
- ^ "Il grande sogno (2009) - IMDb". imdb.com. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
External links
- Media related to Avola at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website (in Italian)
- Avola online (in Italian)
- Consorzio Mandorla di Avola (in Italian)