Sant'Agata li Battiati (Catania Province) is 8 km from Catania, alt. 320 m, on the southeastern slopes of Etna, area 3.1 sq km. Its population is just over 10,700, post-code 95030, tel. 095. Economy: agriculture.

This town was a fief of the Massa family, the Princes of Castelforte. The original name of li Battiati is apparently the nickname of the members of a family who lived in the original village. The Saint's name was added when the lava stream in 1444 stopped just in front of the veil of St. Agata which had been laid in its path.

Of interest are the oldest homes which are long low buildings of black lava stone with some whitewash around the doors and windows.

On August 10 is the Festa of San Lorenzo.

Churches (Catania Diocese) include the following:

Maria SS. Annunziata (Chiesa Madre)

S. Tommaso V. e Ss. Martiri Inglesi

Links to sites with more about Sant'Agata li Battiati include:

Catania Provincia

Italian Postal Codes

Italian Towns

Italian Wikipedia

Sicilia

Sicilian Net

Sicily Web

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.