Augusta, Sicily
Augusta | |
|---|---|
| Comune di Augusta | |
 | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Augusta  | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Province | Syracuse (SR) |
| Frazioni | Brucoli |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Massimo Carrubba (PD) |
| Area | |
• Total | 109.33 km2 (42.21 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 34,539 |
| • Density | 320/km2 (820/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Augustani |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 96011 |
| Dialing code | 0931 |
| Patron saint | St. Dominic |
| Saint day | May 24 |
| Website | Official website |
Augusta (Sicilian: Austa, Greek and Latin: Megara Hyblaea, Medieval: Augusta and Agosta) is a town and comune in the province of Syracuse, located on the eastern coast of Sicily (Italy). The city is one of the main harbours in Italy, especially for oil refineries (Exxon Mobil) which are in its vicinity.
Geography
The city is situated in Syracuse and faces the Ionian Sea. The old town is an island, made by cutting an isthmus in the 16th century and is connected to the mainland by two bridges. One bridge was built recently (Viaduct Frederick II of Swabia) and the other built when the city was founded and is called the Spanish Gate. Augusta is home to two ports.
History
The town was founded by Emperor Frederick II. After the Angevine domination, it became part of Aragonese Sicily and, from 1362, it was a fief of Guglielmo Raimondo II Moncada. It returned a Royal possession (under Spain) in 1560, and was extensively fortified to counter Turkish pirates.
In 1675 its harbour was the seat of naval battle between Spanish and English fleets. The town suffered a major earthquake and tsunami in 1693.[4] During World War II, Augusta was invaded on July 13, 1943 by the Eighth Army of the Allied troops led by British General Montgomery.
Main sights
- Church of San Domenico (13th century). The façade is in Neoclassical style.
- Convent of the Domenican Fathers
- Church of S. Francesco di Paola
- Church of Cristo Re
- Church of Mother Mary SS. Assunta (Augusta)
- Church of Anime Sante del Purgatorio (S. Nicolò). The Baroque façade is attributed to Filippo Juvarra.
- Chiesa del Carmine
- Church of San Sebastiano
- Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso
- Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
- Church of San Giuseppe
- Church of Maria Santissima del Soccorso
- Church of Sant'Andrea
- Church of Santa Lucia
- Church of Sacro Cuore
- Porta Spagnola
- Castello Svevo (Hohenstaufen Castle, built c. 1232). It has a square plan of a 62-metre (203 ft) side length, with eight towers
- Spanish Gate (17th century)
- Hangar dirigibili Augusta
- Kursaal Augusteo
- Ricetta di Malta
- Forti Garsia e Vittoria
- Torre Avalos
- Eremo Adonai
People
- Emanuele d'Astorga, composer
- Danilo Conti, philosopher, astronaut
- Orso Mario Corbino, physicist
- Epicarmo Corbino, economist
- Giuseppe Di Mare, organist, pianist and composer
- Rosario Fiorello, showman
- Beppe Fiorello, actor
- Alfredo Maria Garsia, Bishop of Caltanissetta
- Marcello Guagliardo Giordani, opera singer (tenor)
- Giovanni Lavaggi, Formula 1 driver
- Roy Paci, musician
- Antonio Scaduto, canoeist
- Riccardo Schicchi, director
- Chiara Strazzulla, writer
- Vintario Brusconti, writer (fictional)
References
- ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ Data from Istat
- ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ Catalogue of tsunamis generated in Italy and in Cote d’Azur, France:a step towards a unified catalogue of tsunamis in Europe, Stefano Tinti and Alessandra Maramai - 1693 1 9 - Eastern Sicily Anomalous sea movement at Augusta and 1693 l 11 - Eastern Sicily Large sea withdrawal and flooding at Augusta
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External links
- Augusta News
- Augusta map and facilities
- Augusta port facilities
- Real estate in Brucoli-Augusta
- Augusta Boston Club