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Fiumefreddo di Sicilia
Coat of arms of Fiumefreddo di Sicilia
Municipal coat of arms
Country Flag of Italy Italy
Region Flag of Sicily Sicily
Province Catania (CT)
Mayor Sebastiano Nucifora from May 30, 2002, rielected May 14, 2007
Elevation 62 m (203 ft)
Area 12 km² (5 sq mi)
Population
 - Total 9,581
 - Density 798/km² (2,067/sq mi)
Time zone CET, UTC+1
Coordinates 37°48′N, 15°12′E
Gentilic fiumefreddesi
Dialing code 095
Postal code 95013
Frazioni Botteghelle, Castello, Diana, Torrerossa, Feudogrande, Civì, Vignagrande, Gona, Ponte Borea, Liberto
Patron St. Joseph: May, 19th, Immaculate Conception of Mary: last Sunday of July
Website: Comune di Fiumefreddo di Sicilia

Fiumefreddo di Sicilia (Sicilian: Ciumifriddu) is a comune on the coast of the Ionian Sea on the island of Sicily. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. In Italy, a Province (in Italian provincia) is an administrative division of intermediate level between Municipality ( Comune Catania ( Provincia di Catania; Sicilian: Pruvincia di Catania) is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Central European Time ( CET) is one of the names of the Time zone that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. UTC+1 is used in the following locations Central European Time West Africa Time Western European Summer Time A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place Here are a list of area codes in Italy. All numbers here begin with the country code (0039 A frazione, in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a Comune; for other Administrative Joseph "of the House of David " ( Hebrew יוֹסֵף also known as Saint Joseph, Joseph the Betrothed, Joseph of Nazareth For dogmatic context see Roman Catholic Mariology. For artistic depictions see Roman Catholic Marian art. Sicilian (scn '''''lu sicilianu''''' lingua siciliana, also known as Siculu or Calabro-Sicilian) is a Romance language. In Italy, the comune, (plural comuni) is the basic Administrative division of both provinces and regions and may be properly approximated in The Ionian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. It shares its borders with the municipalities of Calatabiano to the north, Mascali to the south and Piedimonte Etneo to the west. Calatabiano (Cattabbianu is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 170 km Mascali is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 170 km east of Piedimonte Etneo is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 160 km east

The commune gets its name from the Fiumefreddo River which runs alongside the territory of the comune. The word fiumefreddo means literally "cold river", a reference to the fact that the river is fed by snow melts from Mount Etna. Fiumefreddo di Sicilia is near the major Etna tourist centres. The SS120 to Mt Etna and Randazzo start from there. Randazzo (Rannazzu is a town of Sicily, Italy, in the Province of Catania.

Il Castello degli Schiavi in Fiumefreddo di Sicilia is known for being in the Godfather trilogy as the house where many scenes were shot, one of the most famous being in 'The Godfather Part I when Apollonia was murdered. The Godfather is a 1972 Crime drama film based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Mario Puzo and directed

Contents

The Comune

Fiumefreddo di Siclia
Fiumefreddo di Siclia

Fiumefreddo di Sicilia is situated in the Province of Catania and it was so named to distinguish it from Fiumefreddo Bruzio, in the Province of Cosenza. Fiumefreddo Bruzio is town and Comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The Province of Cosenza (Provincia di Cosenza is a province in the Calabria region of Italy. Currently the town has almost 10,000 inhabitants.

Fiumefreddo stands along the SS 114 and A18, both roads run from Catania to Messina. Fiumefreddo di Sicilia is in the heart of an important road and railway network, near Taormina and Acireale and not far from Catania and Messina. Taormina ( Sicilian: Taurmina; Greek: - Tauromenion; Latin Tauromenium) is a Comune and small town Acireale ( Aciriali in Sicilian; often shortened to Aci) is a coastal city in the north-east of the Province of Catania, Sicily Catania ( Greek: &ndash Katánē; Latin: Catăna and Catĭna; Arabic: Its strategical position, has been enhanced by the opening of the motorway junction. This has reemphasised Fiumefreddo's role in the area. The most important part of Fiumefreddo stands along the SS 114, where, in the 1700s, the old shops of the Prince of Palagonia stood. Therefore this area maintains the name of Botteghelle, while other areas, such as Castello, Diana, Liberto, Torrerossa, Ponte Borea, Feudogrande, Vignagrande, Gona and Civì, were built at different periods.

Together with other towns, such as Giarre, Riposto, Piedimonte Etneo, Linguaglossa, Castiglione di Sicilia, Mascali and Calatabiano, Fiumefreddo forms the electorate of Giarre. Giarre (Giarri is an Italian town and Comune on the east coast of Sicily in the Province of Catania. Riposto (Ripostu is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 170 km east Piedimonte Etneo is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 160 km east Linguaglossa (Linguarossa is a town and Comune in the Province of Catania in Sicily, located on the northern side of Mount Etna. Castiglione di Sicilia ( Castigghiuni di Sicilia in Sicilian) is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Catania in Mascali is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 170 km east of Calatabiano (Cattabbianu is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 170 km

Fiumefreddo is bounded by the Ionian Sea to the East, by Calatabiano to the North, by Piedimonte Etneo to the West and by Mascali to the South. The Ionian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. Its municipal territory is mainly flat, especially along the coast, where there is a marvellous beach, Marina di Cottone, which is subject to very intense summer tourism.

Fiumefreddo is so named after the river that runs through it, whose natural habitat, with its exceptionally cold water, has allowed the development of typical river flora and fauna. In order to protect this particular natural environment, the Sicilian Region, through a law D. A. n. 205185, has instituted a protected area, The Natural Oriented Reserve of The River Fiumefreddo.

Short History

On the western coast of Sicily, on the South of the river Alcantara, where the extremities of the slopes of Mount Etna spread out in plains and small hills, a little river rises from lava rocks, it flows towards the sea and for the exceptional coldness of its water is named Fiumefreddo, ("Cold River").

This river runs across a plain. Here Cluverio said Greeks founded Nasso. Although some historians had placed Naxos on Cape Schisò, we can say that ancient writers described the new town as set up between two rivers: the Onobola on the North and the Akesine on the South.

If we identify the first river with the Alcantara, the second is most probably Fiumefreddo. This theory has been borne out by Bochard, who found an etymological correspondence of the name Akesine to that of Fiumefreddo. The name of the ancient river may have been born indeed as a corruption of the word Akesine that probably derived from a Syriac word, "hassim', which means "cold river". This theory was so repeated that someone managed to see even the ancient Nasso and to describe its ruins next to the Torre Rossa (Red Tower).

Holm succeeded in discrediting this theory. He proved that Onobola is the torrent Sìrina; it flows down to the sea near Giardini railway station. He also established that the Akesine is Alcantara. Therefore the ancient Nasso was set again on Cape Schisò. But some historians did not give up on the idea of describing an old town next to the mouth of Fiumefreddo, so Carrera placed Callipoli, Nasso's colony. More accurate studies have placed this colony near Mascali, on the left side of the torrent Macchia.

It is likely that in 135 BCE, slaves led by Euno passed through this territory when, having revolting against the Romans, they were besieged by Rupilio consul at Taormina's Acropolis, and when, in 63 BCE, stirred up by Atenione, they were surrounded at Macella. The Roman Republic was the phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a Republican form of government a period which began with the overthrow of the Acropolis (Gr akros akron edge extremity + polis city pl acropoleis Year 63 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Pompey conquers Phonecia, Coele-Syria

Later Sicily was conquered by the Normans who instituted a feudal system of government. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. Feudalism, a term first used in the early modern period (17th century in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval Europe Political system composed Count Roger gave the enfeoffment of Fiumefireddo territory (with San Giovanni Church) to the Greek bishop Mannuges, who, after his death, gave it to Angeria, Bishop of Catania. Roger I (1031 &ndash June 22, 1101) called Bosso and the Great Count, was the Norman Count of Sicily from 1071 to 1101 This donation was confirmed by the bishop of Messina in 1106 and it is supported by documentary evidence in the Greek Diplomas contained in the Table that is kept in the Capitural Archives, in Catania’s main church.

During the twelfth century Catania's bishops succeeded Augerio in the Fiumefreddo Feud. After the Norman Kingdom of Sicily passed to the Swabians (the House of Hohenstaufen} and following a long struggle between Church and Empire during the reign of Frederick II (Fidiricu), the Bishop of Catania lost this territory. The Kingdom of Sicily (Regnum Siciliae or Sicilie Regno di Sicilia, commonly abbreviated Regno) was a state that existed in the south of Italy Swabia, Suabia, or Svebia ( German: Schwaben, Schwabenland or Ländle) is both a historic and linguistic Frederick II ( December 26, 1194 &ndash December 13, 1250) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was a Pretender to the title Immediately after the Sicilian Vespers of 1282, the Feud belonged to the Admiral Ruggero di Lauria. The Sicilian Vespers is the name given to a rebellion in Sicily in 1282 against the rule of the Angevin king Charles I of Naples, who had taken control When Count Ruggero was charged with treason, Symon Fimmetta received this Feud, as we can read in the census of Frederick III in 1296. Frederick II or III ( 13 December 1272 &ndash 25 June 1337) was the Regent (from 1291 and subsequently King of Sicily We have to wait for an entire century before we see Fiumefreddo Feud mentioned again in Official Acts. In the census of Martin the younger (1408) the Feud appears as a Property of Zaccaria de Parisio: maybe the feud previously belonged to his brother Adario, whose inheritance was also desired by the Balsamo Family from Messina. Martin I of Sicily (c 1374/1376 — July 25, 1409) called "The Younger" was King of Sicily from 1390 to 1409 This caused a quarrel between Balsamo and Zaccaria families. Eventually Zaccaria gave them two thirds of the property sought. After Parisio had taken control of the estate, his son Nicolò, also known as Vayro, succeeded in obtaining the Investiture by the Archbishop of Palermo in 1493. He was obliged to respect the Curia Rights and the Military Service. At that time there were still no residences but only a small castle built to signal dangers from the sea and from the neighbouring areas. Parisios maintained the Feud until the first half of the seventeenth century, but in 1666, and we do not know the cause, they lost it and Francesco Maria Arezzo became the Lord of Fiumefreddo. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar At that time a little village was built around the castle.

In 1674 during the Revolution in Messina, the Arezzos supported the Lighthouse Town, and after the rebels were defeated, they lost the seigniory over Fiumefreddo. Felice Mancuso was then enfeoffed and he also obtained the election of Fiumefreddo in Barony. In 1726 Francesco Ferdinando Gravina, Prince of Palagonia and Baron of Calatabiano received the Investiture of the Barony of Fiumefreddo. Year 1726 ( MDCCXXVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a During the time of Gravina the Church of San Giuseppe was built, which became the centre of the new built up area and some shops that were run in the Prince's interest were opened along the road. A little village was built on the southern area of the Barony and another one on the north, in the Diana area, where also was built the Church of San Vincenzo.

In 1801 Fiumefreddo had a population of 500 inhabitants, and the territory was therefore elevated to a commune. Year 1801 ( MDCCCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Tuesday In 1813, after the abolition of vassalage, Fiumefreddo did not depend anymore on the Baron, apart from census to be paid, so the village began to prosper reaching 700 inhabitants in 1831. Year 1813 ( MDCCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a In 1848 a revolution against Spain arose in Palermo and it echoed even in Fiumefreddo where a certain Carrobello, backed up by other comrades blocked the coach of an Intendant who was passing through the village. Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap The Sicilian revolution of independence of 1848 occurred in a year replete with revolutions and popular revolts Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Palermo ( Sicilian: Palermu, Greek: Panormus, al-Madinah during Muslim rule is a historic City in He was threatening with the cry “Palermo and Santa Rosolia!". The unlucky person managed to run away only after he had denounced his rank and position.

In 1849, after the fall of Messina, Fiumefreddo was invaded by the King's troops. Year 1849 ( MDCCCXLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The chaplain Domenico Biondo told the Bourbon soldiers that he was going to Catania but he was threatened with death by a soldier because a priest had killed his brother. During the night of the 24 October 1852, King Ferdinando II passed through Fiumefreddo and stopped for few minutes at a fountain with a trough and near Morabito Palace. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat Year 1852 ( MDCCCLII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Ferdinand II ( Ferdinando Carlo, January 12, 1810 &ndash May 22, 1859) was the King of the Two Sicilies from 1830 until Here he received the delegation of the Commune led by don Leonardo Puccio, who was the mayor at that time.

The Frazioni

Botteghelle

Along the confluence of two main roads that linked up Catania to Messina and the Etnean villages to the sea, first rose a tavern, then an inn and eventually some shops and "fondachi", places where it was possible to change horses: useful services for travellers facing a journey that in the eighteenth century seemed gruelling. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system

Shop workers found it convenient to build their houses near the places where they worked. Therefore Botteghelle originated from a group of stores but quickly the village expanded finding itself in the confluence of the two roads, fertile ground to establish trade and so attracting some immigration from the neighbouring villages. Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term An immigration that in the following century noticeably increased when, as a result of thriving citrus plantations, the village offered jobs in the commercial work of lemons and in the manufacturing of citrus byproducts. Citrus is a common term and Genus of Flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, originating in tropical and subtropical southeast regions of The lemon ( Citrus × limon) is a hybrid in cultivated wild plants Besides, many of these workers chose to move to the new centre so the village grew quite quickly.

Botteghelle thus became the most important settlement in Fiumefreddo territory and the centre of the economic and cultural life. Putieddi (in Sicilian) became the name of the entire commune. Sicilian (scn '''''lu sicilianu''''' lingua siciliana, also known as Siculu or Calabro-Sicilian) is a Romance language.

Castello

Situated 400 metres east of Botteghelle, Castello represents the oldest built up area of Fiumefreddo. Before the development of trade along the road from Catania to Messina, this area was the Centre of the new commune. In its church (nowadays lost but a new one was built in the same Piazza in the 1960s) was a pew that the Jury, the town councillors of the period had built to hear Mass. A pew is a long bench used for seating members of a church 's congregation The name of this quarter comes from the tower or little castle built in 1500 to control the coast, The Gravinas made it a civil house but nowadays it is in ruins. Not very far from the old tower, on the east side, rises a baronial palace which dates back to 1700, a country residence for the Lords. The statues of two Moors appear at the windows of the loggia; a legend tells that the castle is named “The Castle of the Slaves" after these two Moors. Slavery is a social-economic system under which certain persons — known as slaves — are deprived of personal freedom and compelled to perform labour or services

Diana

Situated to the north about 300 metres from Botteghelle. Diana rises around a small square, that is the entire built up area. The quarter is so named after the Diana Family, who received the income of the lands of San Vincenzo Hill. Here they built the Family Palace whose evident signs are the square and the family coat of arms (unfortunately stolen by unknown people) on the Portal of the little Church. The inhabitants of Diana are mainly employed in agriculture, while the inhabitants of Botteghelle are devoted to trade.

Torrerossa

Almost a kilometre west of Botteghelle, before the crossroads to Piedimonte Etneo and Calatabiano, is the quarter of Torrerossa ("The red tower"). It consists of few groups of houses, hidden among the citrus plantations, but it is now nearly entirely uninhabited. The quarter is named after the ruin of an old red brick tower, dating back to Roman Times. It was a sepulchral monument that now stands among lemon trees and it is the symbol of the Commune of Fiumefreddo. This symbol stands out on the green drape of the gonfalon.

Recent archaeological excavations, carried out by the Superintendence to BB. Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos CC. of Catania, have shown the Thermae of an ancient Roman Villa of the same age of the more famous one in Piazza Armerina. This page is on buildings used for Roman bathing For the activity in general see Ancient Roman bathing. A Roman villa is a Villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. Piazza Armerina (Sicilian Ciazza) is an Italian comune in the Province of Enna of the autonomous island region of Sicily.

Feudogrande

Feudogrande is situated at about a kilometre west of Botteghelle, on the border with Piedimonte Etneo, where the terraced hills of the slopes of Mount Etna start, and which are rich in vineyards. A vineyard is a Plantation of Grape -bearing Vines grown mainly for Winemaking, but also Raisins Table grapes and non-alcoholic The old quarter sits around a square and the recent Church of the Holy Child from Prague, is renowned for its wells of "Bufardo Torrerossa" water, whose springs were discovered by Francesco De Maria in 1875, as it is remembered in a memorial tablet. A rustic building was the place where the Town Hall was.

Civì & Borgo Valerio

More than two kilometres from Botteghelle, after Feudogrande, the small urban conglomeration of Civì has many citrus plantations. It was probably named after an ancient family who used to live here.

In the neighbourhood there is the small country village of Borgo Valerio, a nobiliary residence of the eighteenth century that now is a farm holiday centre.

Vignagrande

It is an industrial and commercial area, recently there has been an expansion in the construction of housing in the frazione.

Gona

On the border with the territory of Mascali, along the provincial road, to the east of Botteghelle is Gona. Mascali is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 170 km east of The name is a corruption of the Greek “Icona” which probably referring to a small chapel that was nearby.

One of the shops that the Prince of Palagonia had built was in Gona and the village grew from it. It was also named "Porta Sicura” (safety door) because people who were persecuted by the Justice could not be bothered there.

Ponte Borea

At the crossroad of the provincial road to Calatabiano, near the Bridge of Minissale there is Ponte Borea. The name comes from the closeness of the bridge and from the freshness of the air, that, because of the height (130 m. ) and the not very dense population, is always purer and fresher than in other areas. The word Borea comes from the dialect "voria" that recalls the chilliness of the air just stirred by the wind.

The quarter is expanding close to the small square next to the Church of “Our Lady of the Grace", (where there is a valuable painting Our Lady of the Grace of Maratta) and until the motorway junction, on the bounder line to the Commune of Piedimonte Etneo and Calatabiano. In Ponte Borea we can observe some typical Etnean country buildings.

Liberto

Towards Giardini Naxos, after Diana, there is the new residential zone of Liberto.

Arts and Monuments

Filippo Torrisi Statue, S. Vincenzo Ferreri Church & the Corvaja Palace

Filippo Torrisi Statue
Filippo Torrisi Statue
St. Vincenzo Ferreri Church
St. Vincenzo Ferreri Church
Corvaja Palace
Corvaja Palace

Coming from Giardini-Naxos and Calatabiano along the provincial road that leads from Messina to Catania, you come across the quarter of Diana. In the square, recently restored by the Town Authority, there is the statue of Filippo Torrisi, a philanthropic doctor who lived between the seventeenth and the eighteenth century.

A small church dedicated to St. Vincenzo Ferreri and, on the west side, the Corvaja Palace, open on the square: they are significant samples of the rural island architecture, built at the end of the eighteenth century over previous buildings. It consists of the lord's residence, the chapel, the stores, a large yard and the servants' area, over which stands an old battlement tower. It probably dates back to Federick II, who gave it a farm fortress aspect. The church of St. Vincenzo was built to do the Family Diana's wishes at the end of the seventeenth century and it has over the gate the Family's emblem. Inside the church there is the tomb of a boy belonging to the same family. For the New York prison see The Tombs. A Tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead.

The Castle of the Slaves

From the small Diana's square, after Via Badalà, you get onto the road that leads to the sea, Via Marina. Until a century ago it had the name of “Via Mulinelli” because there were many water mills along the road. On its route, after about a kilometre, there is one of the jewels of rural Sicilian baroque in the seventeenth century: Il Castello degli Schiavi (the Castle of the Slaves). The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand Sicilian Baroque is the distinctive form of Baroque architecture that took hold on the island of Sicily Slavery is a social-economic system under which certain persons — known as slaves — are deprived of personal freedom and compelled to perform labour or services

The entrance to the castle is an iron gate, mounted in an arch of lava stone closed by a mascaron that is surmounted by a shell, a common element in the best Catanese Baroque of that period. A castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Lava is molten rock expelled by a Volcano during an eruption When first expelled from a volcanic vent it is a Liquid at Temperatures The arch rests on two false brackets that seem to support two lavic sides of the portal which alternates plain rectangles to others having an atypical pyramid on the vertex. The side walls rest on false bases. We can see on the portal the lava "cappi", once used for horses.

The large open space has a well in the centre and citruses, bougainvilleas and palm trees by the sides. By the side of this court there are storehouses and old stables. On the west side, after the entrance gate, there is the guardian's house.

On the top of the building there is a large arcade. It is possible to see it from the countryside, placed on point of junction of the facets of the sloping roof. On the opening of the arcade there are two Moors.

The façade of the parade, simple and harmonious, is slight oblique in comparison to the road. The castle has two floors: the ground floor is a store while the first floor is the owner's residence.

The ground floor has a large central door, bordered with lava stone and with an oil lamp. By the sides of the entrance there are two dark windows also edged with lava stone.

The first floor has a central balcony with a half bulging rail and three lamps, probably recently made, but similar to the original ones, considering their harmonious insert. Four double brackets prop up the balcony whose door is surmounted by a lava stone frame with mascarones. By the sides, symmetrically to the small windows of the ground floor there are two large windows. Above the openings of the first floor the white of a theory of the raised pinnacles which reproduce hangings of noble tapestries. From every corner of the ground floor some small towers come out; every tower is faced in four parts and closed, from top to bottom, in volumes with gracious lines. Over every facing there is a slit and on every slit eyes and ears are carved in order to remind to the farmers that the master controls them even when they believe not to be controlled.

By these towers it is possible to get inside through a small door. The white hangings continue in the upper part of the tower.

The southern façade of the palace has got three windows as the eastern façade. It also has an external stair that goes to the rooms of the upper floor. At the beginning it goes dressed to the façade and after it turns in the direction of the door, where it extends in a harmonious small terrace. The narrow stairs, with a lava stone handrail has got a small arch at the beginning. It goes before of a flower bed with green climbing plants adjoining to the castle. The interior of the ground floor, with barrel vaults, it is the basement. A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve (or pair of curves in the case It is a cold store room to save food and wine. The upper floor has got eight rooms with an ancient furniture and object such as pictures, Gravina' s court of arms in golden "teson" of Spain; the flag with Savoia's court of arms, valuable books, ancient furniture and a piano.

At the bottom in the large courtyard, in the south east side of the palace, there is a small church dedicated to St. John cult, whose first construction dates back to 1544. It is presently consecrated to Our Lady of the Letter. In the interior there are two small lateral altars and the bigger central one, where, upon it there is the icon of the Our Lady of the Letter. The small church, which is totally in the noble area of the castle, must be excluded by the cult of people different from the owners.

There is a legend about the name of the palace. It tells about a doctor from Palermo, called Palmieri, who saved the Prince of Palagonia's young son affected by a very dangerous illness. The Prince gave him a part of his feud next to the fresh spring of the river because he was very grateful to him. Palmieri built a beautiful palace, he wanted to spend a long resting period with his young and charming lady. But the quiet family life was disturbed by the arrival of “Moreschi" pirates who arrived at the castle from the near beach. They stole everything and imprisoned the owners in order to sell them as slaves.

When they came back to the ship riding and anchor in the river, the Moors were attacked by a group of young people from Taormina. Taormina ( Sicilian: Taurmina; Greek: - Tauromenion; Latin Tauromenium) is a Comune and small town They were led by Nello Corvaja who was in the lady's good graces. From the heights of Taormina he noticed the Moor's vessel; he hastened to reach the river, being afraid of the sort of the lady.

To thank God for the unexpected help Palmieri built a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Letter. He also built a small arcade on the roof of the castle. Upon the arcade there are two statues of the Moors. The names of the palace comes from "scavi" that is the dialect name of the two statues.

The Castle of the Slaves has been the setting for many cinematography works. It was discovered by Pier Paolo Pasolini in 1968. He filmed some scenes of "Orgia" but the castle became famous with “Il Padrino" (The Godfather). The Godfather is a 1972 Crime drama film based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Mario Puzo and directed Francis Ford Coppola filmed some immortal scenes both from the first part (1971) and the second part (1974). Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar.

Church of Saint Joseph/Our Lady of the Rosary

Our Lady of the Rosary Church
Our Lady of the Rosary Church

Going up towards Castello and after Via Della Chiesa and the new square dedicated to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, until fifty years ago it was possible to see the ruins of the small Church of Saint Joseph, built by the Prince of Palagonia in 1612, and the ruins of the tribune put up by the first town councillors. Mother Teresa, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, (born August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997) was an Albanian ref>Spink Joseph "of the House of David " ( Hebrew יוֹסֵף also known as Saint Joseph, Joseph the Betrothed, Joseph of Nazareth

During World War II bombardments the church was completely destroyed, miraculously the statues that were in the church were not destroyed. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including During the period that there was no church the statues were kept in several parishioners houses:

During the 60’s the church was rebuilt and finished. It was consecrated the 6th of September 1969 but it hasn't yet been dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary for several difficulties. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Gravina's Family Castle

In some ruins near the church, entirely restored, some experts have seen the rests of the castle of Gravina Family built in 1500 and after which the quarter is named.

Casale Papandrea

Next to the church there is a big building, a citrus byproducts firm, built in the second half of the last century and named Casale Papandrea. The local authority is going to restore this area in order to use it for musical and cultural events.

You can enter through a lava stone gate, placed by the side of the court. The complex consists of three buildings around a square space. The factory consists of a large rectangular room, mainly developed in length and it has two levels. Next to the firm there are two lower bodies of the building: a store and a small building once used as an office. This is leant against a big arch which is a communication link between the court and outside the building. It continues the rhythmic scansion of the openings that are walled up and so it close the third façade of the court. The rear walls of the houses that looks out on Via Della Chiesa, close the court. The factory seems to be a compact structure whose front is measured by depressed curved windows with two shutters and with a brick frame. There is just and projecting element that is a square little tower over which leant a brick stair, a room which was used to check all people did inside the building. On the ground floor there are still some cast iron screw presses which were used to abstract the sourness. The upper floor was used as a citrus fruits store that the conveyor belt led to the ground floor where the fruits were manufactured. The tile covering of the roof is supported by wooden trusses. Leaning against the blind wall there are some vats for fermentation.

The Red Tower

Torre Rossa
Torre Rossa

Beyond Diana, on the west, between Feudogrande and Ponteborea, among the green citrus plantations, there is another tower which is named Torrerossa (the red tower) because it was built with red bricks. Originally it was a Roman sepulchral monument; it has been restored several times and now it is the symbol of the Commune.

Church of Holy Immaculate Mary

If you go on again towards Catania along the road S. S. 114, you arrived at Botteginelle, which is the most important built up and commercial area.

In the main square there is the Holy Immaculate Mary Church that was built thanks to the contribution of the Commune and the parishioners in 1866-1877 and it was open in July 1877. Year 1866 ( MDCCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common It has a nave with a bell tower in front of it.

The right aisle -on the southern side- was built in 1910-1920 together with the chapel dedicated to the Immaculate and it was distempered by the painter Primo Panciroli(1944) from Rome. Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The statue of the Immaculate Conception, which is very worshipped by the inhabitants of the town, is a valuable sculpture made of Sicilian poplar wood by a sculptor from Messina and donated to the church by Francesco De Maria(1888) for favours received. For dogmatic context see Roman Catholic Mariology. For artistic depictions see Roman Catholic Marian art. Populus is a genus of between 25–35 species of Flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. Year 1888 ( MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The left aisle -on the northern side- together with the new tower bell and the northern façade in white stone of Syracuse have been completed in the 50s and 60s thanks to the Archpriest Antonino Catalano (priest 1937-1990). Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar)

The glass resin statue of the Immaculate was placed on the tower bell in July 1977 on the occasion of the centenary of the church. Resin, not to be confused with Rosin, is a Hydrocarbon Secretion of many Plants particularly coniferous trees. A statue is a Sculpture in the round representing a person or persons an animal or an event normally full-length as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays

Marina di Cottone

From the motorway junction, along via Ponte Minissale, after the road S. S. 114, on the East, the visitor can admire the splendid view of Marina di Cottone, with its open and unpolluted sea and its beach with big grey, white and black shingles; it is the destination of thousands of tourists during the summer time.

The Natural Oriented Reserve of the river Fiumefreddo

Together with the sea, with its pure, deep and cold water, the element that is the main attraction in the territory, is the river. In order to protect this peculiar ecosystem the river Fiumefreddo has been included among the first 19 Sicilian natural reserves. Through the law, D. A. n. 205 of the 29 06 84, the Sicilian Regional Administration has instituted the Natural Oriented Reserve of the river Fiumefreddo.

The main entrance of the Reserve is situated in Cottone, far about 200 m. from the sea and 1,500 m. from Diana, after the Castle of the Slaves that is in the territory of the pre Reserve. The entrance and the visit centre are open every day of the year at the following time: Autumn Winter: 8:30am – 4:30pm; Spring Summer: 9:00am - 6:00pm.

Entrance is free but you can give some money as a contribution to support the activities to protect the environment carried out by W. W. F. Some members of this association act as guides during the visits and give information and leaflets. After an agreement with the Province Authority, the local W. W. F is, in fact, entrusted with the management of the reserve.

Because of plenty of water visits are recommended during the winter time. Spring and Autumn are fit for bird watching of the migratory bird life. The summer season is ideal to go to the sea, especially next to the mouth, and is pleasant resting in the surrounding wood.

It is possible to go along "sentiero natura”, which is long about three kilometres. The way is in concrete pavement and it is a level road with grassy stretches. The excursion takes about 90 minutes including a rest and the observation time. During the winter it is useful to dress properly with trekking suit and shoes. It is also useful to take binoculars to see things from a distance.

The Reserve is of interest because it is a remnant of a large marshy area that used to spread out along the coast from Riposto to Fiumefreddo.

The Flora

The great importance of this protected area is due to the particular ecological conditions created by the cold water and by the flowing of Fiumefreddo river. They provide a perfect habitat for watery vegetation such as "Brasche" and Buttercups. These types of plants are more typical of Central and Atlantic Europe. They represent a unique survey station for all of southern Italy. Geography Southern Italy forms the lower "boot" of the Italian peninsula containing the ankle (Abruzzo and Molise and southern Lazio the toe (Calabria and the heel

In the shallow zones of the river, interspersed with smaller streams, it is possible to find Water Celery, Cress, Water Speedwell and Bergamot Mint. Near the mouth there are some examples of "Sparganio", a rare species which is in Sicily only on the Nebrodi at a height of one thousand meters. The Nebrodi (Monti Nebrodi a mountain range that runs along the north east of Sicily. The riversides are full of Marsh Thin Reeds and some Serrate leaf Polygon.

In the mouth of the river there are plants of papyrus whose quality is superior to that of the Ciane river in Syracuse and to the Egyptian papyrus. Papyrus (/pəˈpaɪrəs/ (Rhymes -aɪrəs)is a thick paper-like material produced from the Pith of the papyrus plant Cyperus papyrus Syracuse (Siracusa Sicilian: Sarausa, Classical Greek: / transliterated Syrakousai) is a historic City in Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now The vegetation upon the cane brake with Sedges Bank Sedge and Foxy Sedge has an excellent marshy flora built from Water Iris, Dichotomous Zygome and other species.

Along the riversides there are Nettle, Angelica, White Bearbind, Water Hemp, Equisetum, Brambles and Reeds. This kind of nitrophilous vegetation (it grows in an environment full of nitrogen) is favoured by surrounding farming. Near the springs called “Quadare” it is possible to observe fragments of an old wood of White Willow.

The Fauna

The river ecosystem is very important for many species of animals. This habitat is a staging place even for animals whose life is not deeply linked to the water.

During excursions it is possible to observe many birds: sedentary species such as Water Hen, Greenfinch; Titmouse, Kestrel, Barn Owl, Kingfisher. The Common Moorhen ( Gallinula chloropus) is a Bird in the Rail family with an almost worldwide distribution outside Australasia as well The tits, chickadees, and titmice comprise Paridae, a large family of small Passerine Birds which occur in the Northern hemisphere The name kestrel is given to several different members of the Falcon genus Falco. The city in Russia is spelled Barnaul. The Barn Owl ( Tyto alba) is the most widely distributed species of Kingfishers are small bright colored Birds of the three families Alcedinidae ( River kingfishers, Halcyonidae ( Tree kingfishers, and Cerylidae ( Water Among migratory species: Wild Duck, Hoopoe, Red Heron, Egret, Ash coloured Heron, Crane, Stork, Kite and Tit. The Mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos) probably the best-known and most recognizable of all ducks is a Dabbling duck which breeds throughout the Temperate The Hoopoe (ˈhuːpuː Upupa epops is a colourful bird that is found across Afro-Eurasia, notable for its distinctive 'crown' of feathers The herons are wading Birds in the Ardeidae family Some are called Egrets or Bitterns instead of herons This is an article about a type of bird For the EGRET satellite mission see Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope. The herons are wading Birds in the Ardeidae family Some are called Egrets or Bitterns instead of herons Cranes are large long-legged and long-necked Birds of the order Gruiformes, and family Gruidae. Storks are large long-legged long-necked wading Birds with long stout bills, belonging to the family Ciconiidae. A kite is a flying tethered object that depends upon the tension of a tethering system

Mammalian species, that live inside the reserve, are less numerous but not less interesting: wild rabbit, fox, weasel, hedgehog and little rodents such as the field mouse. Rabbits are small Mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world A fox is an Animal belonging to any one of about 27 Species (of which only 12 actually belong to the Vulpes genus or 'true foxes' of small Weasels are Mammals in the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. A hedgehog is any of the small spiny Mammals of the Subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. A mouse (plural mice) is a small Animal that belongs to one

In this habitat reptiles find an ideal environment: the Coluber, the Ring Snake and the Gecko. Coluber is a Genus of thin bodied fast moving Colubrid Snakes commonly known as racers. Geckos are small to average sized Lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae which are found in warm climates throughout the world Fish species are the Heel and, more rarely, the Trout. The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the Foot. It is based on the projection of one Bone, the Calcaneus, behind the articulation of the Trout is the common name given to a number of Species of Freshwater Fish belonging to the Salmonidae family

Although there aren't detailed information about invertebrates living in the reserve, it is possible to observe many insects that are the food sources for the larger fauna; there are many species of Dragonfly, Chafer, Cricket, Balm cricket, Water flea, Bumble bee, Swallow tail, Cabbage butterfly, Vanessa, Earthworm and River Crab. Anisoptera redirects here For the genus of trees see Anisoptera (tree. Beetles are the group of Insects with the largest number of known Species. Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries Water flea is a generic term for a number of small aquatic Crustacea characterised by their jumping or jerky mode of swimming A bumblebee (or bumble bee) is any member of the Bee Genus Bombus, in the family Apidae; there are over 250 known species primarily Earthworm is the usual name for the largest members of Oligochaeta (which is either a class or subclass depending on the author in the phylum Annelida In classical

Fiumefreddo Today

The vineyards which were the main sources of industry were uprooted during the eighteenth century. Since the beginning of the twentieth century Fiumefreddo has based its economy on citrus plantations (verdello lemons, oranges and tangerines) and on the manufacturing of citrus by-products. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on The lemon ( Citrus × limon) is a hybrid in cultivated wild plants An orange —specifically the sweet orange —is the Citrus fruit Citrus sinensis ( syn The tangerine ( Citrus reticulata) is an orange - or red -colored Citrus Fruit. The first firms were built at the end of the nineteenth century and at the beginning of the last. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar This caused an increased demand for labour; so many workers moved to Fiumefreddo especially from the Province of Messina. Messina (Italian Provincia di Messina; Sicilian: Pruvincia di Missina) is a province in the autonomous island region The lemon juice was processed, bottled up and exported to make several types of drinks. At the beginning of the 20th century the London market required almost the entire production. But from the 1950s the export trade began to meet great difficulties because of the competition with America and Mediterranean countries, such as Spain and Palestine. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America Palestine is a name which has been widely used since Roman times to refer to the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River.

The crisis of the citrus plantations caused a difficult time which was overcome when, in the 1960s, two factories were opened: the SIACE and the KEYES, to manufacture the paper. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 This signalled an important economic change as agricultural workers became employed in manufacturing.

The opening of the SIACE caused a widening of the tertiary sector and increased the quality of the local life, deeply linking the life in the town to the financial success of the factory. After a few years the first factory started its decline which ended with the closing of SIACE. The critical time was the summer of 1969, when the factory was occupied by the workers. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Later it passed to the Sicilian Region but this didn't save the factory, while KEYES, a Dutch multinational company, continued the production of trays and containers made of biological paper until 2005 when it was closed. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Lately there has been a return to the country; a renewed agriculture that makes optimum use of the land through farmers' co-operatives and innovation, such as the floriculture and the production of vegetables grown in greenhouses. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse or hothouse) is a building where plants are cultivated It is important to underline the export of daisies, bouganvilleas (Fiumefreddo is in competition with Florida), hibiscus, ornamental palms and citrus trees. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Recently the cherry tomato (called "di Pachino”) industry is expanding; about 80 people work in one farm. The growing and manufacturing of papyrus, out of which a valuable paper is made (the Pharaoh's paper), is also increasing. Besides there is a new production of exotic fruit, especially mango, that finds ideal weather conditions here.

Handicraft is also developed, especially the manufacturing of building products and marbles, machine shops, the handwork of artistic handicrafts made of wrought iron, lamps, wooden and aluminium frames, joiner's shops and studios specialised in restoration works of old furniture. Handicraft, also known as craftwork or simply Craft, is a type of work where useful and decorative devices are made completely by hand or using only simple tools A big pasta factory specialising in organic pasta exports its products all over the world. It is very interesting visiting some craftsman's shops, especially those showing furniture of the Sicilian Eighteenth Century and old tools. In Via Umberto there is the studio of a very esteemed naive painter, Professor Marcello La Spina. Some private shops make gold and silk embroidery, following ancient techniques.

The local confectioner's shops, in via Umberto and in Feudogrande, Diana and Castello, make Cannoli, almond paste (marzipan), ice cream and granita. Cannoli, Cannola (plural in Sicilian are Sicilian Pastry Desserts The singular is cannolo meaning “little tube” with the For the character in the animated internet cartoon see Homestar Runner. Ice cream or ice-cream (originally iced cream) is a frozen dessert made from Dairy products such as Milk and Cream, combined Granita (in Italian also granita siciliana) is a semi-frozen dessert of sugar water and flavorings originally from Sicily, although available all over Italy

Another source of wealth for the town is the sea, more so from tourism than fishing. Fiumefreddo's beach seems to be the only bathing area from Catania to Messina, in fact it gained the Blue Flag of the European Community. The European Community (EC is one of the Three pillars of the European Union (EU created under the Maastricht Treaty (1992 Carlo Lizzani filmed some scenes of his documentary “A travel around Frederick the Second". In restaurants along Marina di Cottone beach you can enjoy fresh fish and other specialities of Sicilian cuisine, accompanied by Etnean wines. The cuisine of Sicily shows traces of all the cultures which established themselves on the island over the last two millennia Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice

Sports

Fiumefreddo di Sicilia has several sports clubs:

Sources


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