Palazzolo Acreide (Siracusa Province) is 44 km from Siracusa alt. 670 m, in the Monte Lauro group, on the right of the River Anapo, area 189.3 sq km, pop. 9,427, post-code 96010, tel. 0931. Economy: agriculture (cereals), cattle and sheep farming, cheeses.
Siracusa founded here in 664 BC the city of Akrai, which played an important role in the control of the paths of communication with the towns on the S coast.
Civitas stipendiaria under the Romans, it was still prospering in the early Christian age. It was probably later destroyed by the Arabs. A Norman castle, no longer extant, led to new development of the town. The 1693 earthquake, with its terrible devastations, necessitated further patient reconstruction work.
Of interest: Casa-museo A. Uccello, a museum of peasant life; Palazzo Zocco; Palazzo Cappellani (20th century); Archaeological Museum; Ancient theatre; Akrai; there are two latomie (quarries), Intagliata and Intagliatella; Santicello, are the rock sculptures which have become famous with the name of santoni: most of them represent the goddess Cybele, who was worshipped here.
Churches (Siracusa Diocese) include the following:
Families researched in these records include the following:
Links to other sites about Palazzolo Acreide include:
My latest book on CD is titled Sicily - A Reference for Researchers and is now available. With a file for each town (plus many other files), it relates the history of Sicily as reflected in the photos, records and festivals of its towns. It contains over 2500 text and photo files and can be ordered at CD order.
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