Militello in Val di Catania

Militello in Val di Catania
Comune
Comune di Militello in Val di Catania
Coat of arms
Location of Militello in Val di Catania
Militello in Val di Catania Location of Militello in Val di Catania in Sicily Show map of Italy Militello in Val di Catania Militello in Val di Catania (Sicily) Show map of Sicily
Coordinates: 37°17′N 14°47′E
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Metropolitan city	Catania (CT)
Government
• Mayor	Giovanni Burtone
Area [1]
• Total	62.2 km^2 (24.0 sq mi)
Elevation	413 m (1,355 ft)
Population  (2016)[2]
• Total	7,359
• Density	120/km^2 (310/sq mi)
Demonym	Militellesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	95043
Dialing code	095
Patron saint	Santissimo Salvatore and Santa Maria della Stella
Saint day	August 18 and September 8
Website	Official website
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Part of	Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily)
Criteria	Cultural: (i)(ii)(iv)(v)
Reference	1024rev-003
Inscription	2002 (26th Session)
Area	1.43 ha (154,000 sq ft)
Buffer zone	27.48 ha (2,958,000 sq ft)

Militello in Val di Catania (Sicilian: Militeḍḍu) is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 160 kilometres (99 mi) southeast of Palermo and about 35 kilometres (22 mi) southwest of Catania, on the last slopes of the Hyblaean Mountains. It has a railway station on the line Catania-Gela. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").^[3]

History

Despite remains of prehistorical settlements and legends of a Roman foundation, the first mention of Militello dates from 1000 AD, when it became a marquisate under the Cammarana.^{[clarification needed]}

The golden age of Militello was during the early 17th century, under the government of Prince Francesco Branciforte. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693, but the subsequent restoration added numerous architectural and artistic works of art.

Main sights

Together with other cities of the Val di Noto, Militello has been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List. Its main artistical attractions include:

Churches

• Mother Church of San Nicolò and Santissimo Salvatore (18th century)
• Santa Maria la Vetere, with a 1506 portal by Antonello Gagini
• Madonna della Catena (17th century), with a 16th-century niche
• Abbey of San Benedetto (17th century)
• Sant'Antonio da Padova, with a bell tower from 1719
• Santa Maria della Stella (18th century)
• Santissimi Angeli Custodi late 18th century, with a precious ceramics pavement

Palaces

• Barresi Branciforte Castle, with the Fountain of the Nymph Zizza (17th century)
• Palazzo Baldanza-Denaro (17th century)
• Palazzo Niceforo (18th century)
• Palazzo Baldanza (19th century)
• Palazzo Majorana della Nicchiara
• Palazzo Tineo
• Palazzo Reburdone
• Palazzo Reina

See also

• Val di Catania

References

1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
2. All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
3. "Sicilia" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 August 2023.

External links

• Official website