| Francavilla of Sicily | ||
 | ||
| State | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Sicily | |
| Territory | Messinese | |
| Altitude | 330 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 82.73 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 3.744 (2019) | |
| Name inhabitants | Francavillesi | |
| Prefix tel | 39 0942 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 98034 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | Santa Barbara and Sant'Euplio of Catania | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Francavilla of Sicily is a city of Sicily.
To know
Geographical notes
The city is located in the valley Alcantara in a depression between Alcantara River to the south and the San Paolo River North. The city is economically oriented towards agriculture, the neighbor Alcantara gorge and the natural park on the Alcantara bring some tourism to the region.
Background
In prehistoric times there was probably a cult site of the Mother Earth of Demeter or Astarte. The story of Francavilla dates back to the Middle Ages. Around 1000-1100 a hermitage probably already existed in the area below Roger I of Altavilla was built a Basilian monastery of S. Salvatore di Placa in 1090/1100. In the twelfth century, therefore, the Norman fortress was probably built, which had the task of protecting the Alcantara valley. In 1538 the city passed to Visconte Antonio Balsamo as a fief, in 1678 it received the city rights from Charles V.
How to orient yourself
Francavilla di Sicilia: full screen map.
Neighborhoods
The district Contorado it is located at an altitude near the Matrice and can be reached by the stone-paved via Visconte Ruffo and via San Francesco.
How to get
By plane
- 1 Catania airport (Catania Fontanarossa Airport "Vincenzo Bellini". IATA: CTA), Via Fontanarossa, 20, Fontanarossa, ☎ 39 0957239111.
00:00-24:00. Airport for national and international flights. 
00:00-24:00. Airport for national and international flights.
By car
From the highway 
Messina - Catania exit at the junction for Giardini Naxos, then take the 
to the west, after about twenty kilometers you reach Francavilla. The same allows you to reach Novara of Sicily.
From Randazzo you take the 
and then turn to the 
and then take the SP 7i. From Linguaglossa take the and then turn to the SP 7i passing the neighbor Castiglione of Sicily.
Francavilla does not have a sea port, the nearest ferry ports are Messina is Catania.
On the train
- 2 Taormina-Giardini station (26 km by car). This is the closest station. The Alcantara - Francavilla - line Randazzo it was closed in 2002.
- 3 Cerro railway station (FCE - Circumetnea Railway),
(just over 10 km). Narrow gauge railway of the Circumetnea.
By bus
Francavilla is connected with the bus lines Etnatrasporti at the train station of Giardini Naxos is Taormina, as well as a Catania and at the Airport.
How to get around
The city can be easily visited on foot, or by car to nearby attractions.
What see
Churches
.jpg/150px-Chiesa_dell'Annunziata_Francavilla_di_Sicilia(ME).jpg)
- 1 Church of San Paolo, Piazza S. Paolo, 1. It dates back to the 16th century. At the Piazzetta di San Paolo (opposite) is the Fountain of San Paolo with a marble statue of a female figure dating back to 1674.
- 2 Church and Convent of the Capuchins, Via Cappuccini, 49 (along the
north side of the bridge, near the cemetery), ☎ 39 0942 981017. The building layout was built in 1570/1600; the Church of the Convent has a single nave, in the Chapel of the Madonna delle Preci it is possible to find a painting of the "Madonna sitting with the child" by the school of Antonello Messina.
- 3 Church of the Annunziata, Piazza Annunziata. It dates back to 1550, various paintings are visible in the church with three naves.
- 4 Church of Maria SS. Assunta (Master Church), Piazza S. Francesco. The church with the Gothic portal of the sixteenth century, inside there is a tabernacle of the school of Gagini and a painting of the Madonna of the seventeenth century. After the old bell tower had to be demolished due to the risk of collapse, a rather massive and detached one was built in 1852.
- 5 Church of the Carmine, Via Visconte Ruffo, 47. Founded in 1642 and accessible by a staircase.
- Church of S.Rocco. It is only open on August 16 for the celebrations in honor of the saint.
- 6 Church of San Francesco, Piazza S. Francesco. An interesting ruined church.
- Church of the Holy Spirit.
Castles and palaces
- 7 Ruffo Castle (Norman castle). 12th century ruins of a Norman fortress built on a mountain above the city. Today it is in ruins.
- 8 Vena Fountain (Fountain of the 18 schicci), via Gorizia. Built around 1400 with its 18 well pipes, it is connected to the city by a stone-paved staircase.
- 9 Town Hall Building, Piazza Annunziata.
- 10 Cagnone Palace, Piazza S. Francesco, 32, ☎ 39 0942 388023. Established between the XVI-XVII century. Here is also the information office of the Alcantara River Park. In the square there is a fountain decorated with an obelisk
Museums
- 11 Antiquarium, Via Liguria, 30, ☎ 39 0942 981226. The archaeological finds of Francavilla are on display in this museum, including the finds from the Greek period discovered through excavations in the 1980s.
Other
- 12 Karol Wojtyla Park (Park of the Castle), Karol Wojtyla square.
- 13 Gurne of Alcantara (From 4 via S. Francesco follow the path to the river). Gorges carved into the lava rock by the Alcantara river form a series of lakes and waterfalls.
Events and parties
- Carnival of the Alcantara Valley. February.
What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
Safety
The city is completely safe, the crime levels are almost completely absent.
- 5 Emergency medical Service (Local Health Unit Company), Via Regina Margherita, 1, ☎ 39 0942 981571.
How to keep in touch
Around
- 6 Monastery of S. Salvatore della Placa. Ruined monastery.
- 7 Schisina villages (Going through the
between Novara of Sicily is Francavilla of Sicily). A series of settlements for peasants, and today abandoned, built in the fifties of the last century by the Agency for Agrarian Reform in Sicily. The residential buildings are brick and also feature interesting small churches and utility rooms to explore or photograph. - Alcantara River Park - It is a park that follows the course of the Alcantara river to its mouth in the Ionian Sea along the north side of Etna.
- Bosco di Malabotta nature reserve - One of the oldest and most intact woods in Sicily, where the environment maintains atmospheres and landscapes of greater latitudes. Within the area it is also possible to visit the Argimusco plateau
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Francavilla of Sicily
Commons contains images or other files on Francavilla of Sicily
Wikiquote contains quotes from or about Francavilla of Sicily
