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Grammichele

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Country
  
Elevation
  
520 m (1,710 ft)

Time zone
  
CET (UTC+1)

Area
  
30 km²

Province
  
Province of Catania

Region
  
Province / Metropolitan city
  
Catania (CT)

Demonym(s)
  
Grammichelesi

Dialing code
  
0933

Local time
  
Saturday 4:31 AM

Postal code
  
95042

Dialling code
  
0933

Grammichele httpssmediacacheak0pinimgcom736x2eded2

Weather
  
7°C, Wind NW at 5 km/h, 56% Humidity

Grammichele (Sicilian: Grammicheli, Greek: Echetle (meaning "plowshare"); Latin: Echetla, Ochula; Medieval: Occhiolà) is a town and comune in the province of Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is located at the feet of the Hyblaean Mountains, some 13 kilometres (8 mi) from Caltagirone.

Contents

Map of 95042 Grammichele, Province of Catania, Italy

History

The town was built in 1693, after the destruction by an earthquake of the old town of Occhialà, located to the north of the modern Grammichele. Occhialà, which, 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, and which appears to have been originally a Sicel city in which Greek civilization prevailed from the 5th century onwards. Being laid out on a hexagonal street plan, it is one of several Val di Noto towns with distinctive layouts.

On July 15, 1943, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division fought its first battle against German troops during the Battle of Sicily at Grammichele. The name of the town was later granted as a Battle Honour to three regiments of the Canadian Forces.

Main sights

To the east of Grammichele a cave shrine of Demeter, with fine votive terracottas, has been discovered. Other sights include the Mother Church, dedicated to St. Michael, and the church of the Calvary.

References

Grammichele Wikipedia


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