Acireale
| Acireale | |
|---|---|
| Comune | |
| Città di Acireale | |
Piazza del Duomo
|
|
 Acireale
|
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| Coordinates: 37°37′N 15°10′E / 37.617°N 15.167°ECoordinates: 37°37′N 15°10′E / 37.617°N 15.167°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Province / Metropolitan city | Catania (CT) |
| Frazioni | see list |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Roberto Barbagallo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 39 km2 (15 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 102 m (335 ft) |
| Population (31 May 2016) | |
| • Total | 52,591 |
| • Density | 1,300/km2 (3,500/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Acesi |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 95024 |
| Dialing code | 095 |
| Patron saint | St. Venera and St. Sebastian |
| Saint day | 26 July and 20 January |
| Website | Official website |
Acireale [ˌatʃireˈaːle] (Sicilian: Jaciriali; locally shortened to Jaci or Aci) is a coastal city and comune in the north-east of the province of Catania, Sicily, Italy, at the foot of Mount Etna, on the coast facing the Ionian Sea. It is a diocese, famous for its churches, including the Neo-Gothic St. Peter's Basilica, St. Sebastian's Basilica in the Sicilian Baroque style, and the 17th century Acireale Cathedral, and a seminary, for the training of priests. Acireale is also noted for its art and paintings: the oldest academy in Sicily, the "Accademia dei Dafnici e degli Zelanti", is located here.
According to tradition, the city's origins trace back to Xiphonia, a mysterious Greek city now completely disappeared. In Roman times, there existed another Greek town, Akis, which was involved in the Punic Wars. In Ovid's Metamorphoses, there is a great love between Ā́cis, the spirit of the Ā́cis River, and Galatea the sea-nymph. According to mythology, the tears of Galatea after the death of Ā́cis gave birth to the Ā́cis River, Fiume di Jaci, flowing past Acireale (the ancient Akis or Acium).
In the Middle Ages, the town expanded around the castle (now part of Aci Castello), known as Jachium under the Byzantines, as Al-Yāj (الياج) under the Arabs, and, later, as Aquilia. In 1169, a huge earthquake scattered the population of the mainland, divided between the numerous boroughs of Aci. Another Aquilia was founded in the late 14th century further north, creating the nucleus of the modern city. The only remains of the medieval Aquilia Nova ("New Aquilia") is the Gothic-Lombard-styled portal of the cathedral.
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Wikipedia