| Gela | ||
 | ||
| State | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Sicily | |
| Territory | Gelese | |
| Altitude | 46 m a.s.l. | |
| Name inhabitants | Gelesi | |
| POSTAL CODE | 93012 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Gela is a city of Sicily.
To know
Geographical notes
The city of Gela is located on the southern coast of Sicily to the west of the confluence of the homonymous river on the Gulf of Gela and 84 km from the provincial capital Caltanissetta inland.
Background
It is an ancient city founded around 688 BC. by settlers of Rhodes is Crete and among the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in southern Italy. The colony became the starting point of the further Greek colonization of Sicily, for example, Akragas in fact it was founded by Gela. Allied first with Syracuse it was then destroyed by the Carthaginians and in 397 BC. rebuilt. This happened again in 311 BC. always by the Carthaginians, while in 282 BC it was destroyed by the tyrant Finzia of Agrigento and by the population of Finziade (today's Licata). It is important to remember that the Greek playwright Aeschylus 456 BC. he died in Gela and was buried.
In the period of Roman domination Gela lost its importance, only the name of the place as "City of columns" reminded the city. In 1233 Frederick II re-founded it with the name of Newfoundland, creating walls and the Castelluccio in the second half of the 13th century. The city will pass under the feudal lordship of the Lords of Aragon, from the 16th century. In 1799, the city was given the clear distinction of Terranova of Sicily, in the context of the Italianization of place names under Fascist rule, it was renamed in 1928 as Gela.
The city became important during the Second World War as a landing place of the allies between 9 and 10 July 1943, becoming the first European city to be liberated from fascism.
The economy today is based on agriculture (viticulture, wheat and cotton), fishing, and the petrochemical industry today in decline which obscures the tourist image of the city. However, the Gela refinery has been closed and is still expected to be converted into green energy production.
How to orient yourself
Gela: full screen map.The city is connected to the hamlet of Manfria (where the tower of the same name is located), to the west along the coast.
How to get
By plane
Gela is served by the airport of Comiso (34 km) or from the international airport of Catania (95 km).
By car
According to the plans, Gela is the city where the highway should end 
that from Messina passes by Catania is Syracuse and which currently stops at Rosolini. The city is today connected by the 
which from Syracuse reaches the city and continues passing by Agrigento, Sciacca, Mazara del Vallo until Marsala.
From Catania it is connected with the 
passing through Caltagirone which then becomes the 
.
From Palermo you take the highway 
you exit a Enna and you take the 
which then becomes the .
In the city there are two ports on Harbor Refuge used for tourism and fishing and the port of Porto Isola for commercial connections only. The nearest port is that of Pozzallo, Catania or Porto Empedocle.
On the train
.jpg/150px-16.11.95_Gela_ALn668.1502_(12788796533).jpg)
- 1 Gela station. Rail services through Gela station are interrupted except for a couple of trains going to and from Syracuse is Modica (no service on Sundays).
- The station is a 15-minute walk from the center.
By bus
Buses run to and from Palermo, Agrigento, Catania, Caltanissetta, Caltagirone ed Enna. Two buses a day also go east along the coast to Ragusa, Known, Modica is Syracuse. There are national and international bus lines that connect Gela with Naples, Bari, Rome, Milan and other destinations.
How to get around
What see
- 1 [link not working]Mother church (church of Santa Maria Assunta), Via Matrice, 2, ☎ 39 0933 917792. The church was completed in 1844 to replace a previous fourteenth-century church called Santa Maria de 'Platea. The Latin cross interior with three naves. Recently some works have been carried out on the floor which have revealed a crypt with several bodies as well as the base of a Greek temple.
- 2 Regional Archaeological Museum of Gela. It has an important collection of Greek vases, coins, sarcophagi, statues and jewels from the acropolis of Gela and neighboring sites.
- 3 Acropolis of Gela (acropolis of Molino a Vento) (Next to the archaeological museum). The ancient Greek acropolis with houses and three temples.
- 4 Bosco Littorio state-owned archaeological area.
- 5 [link not working]Municipal library of Gela.
- 6 Castelluccio of Gela.
- 7 Church of San Francesco di Paola.
- 8 Church of Sant'Agostino.
- 9 City Palace.
- 10 [link not working]Municipal Theater Aeschylus.
- 11 Iconographic Antiquarium.
- 12 Greek baths of Gela.
- 13 Timoleontee walls.
- 14 Torre Manfria, Contrada Manfria. Ancient 17th century coastal tower 7 km from Gela. It was used, a bit like all the coastal towers of Sicily to defend the very frequent pirate attacks at the time.
Events and parties
What to do
- 1 Biviere di Gela oriented nature reserve.
- 2 PalaLivatino.
- 3 PalaCossiga.
- 4 Villa Garibaldi, Corso Salvatore Aldisio.
09:00-21:00. It is the main public garden in the city with many old trees and wonderful views of the coast.
09:00-21:00. It is the main public garden in the city with many old trees and wonderful views of the coast.Shopping
How to have fun
Night clubs
- 1 The Dune, Federico II di Svevia promenade, ☎ 39 333 353 9872.
Where to eat
Gela is famous for its excellent bread, street food (such as pane e panelle, spread throughout Sicily), pizzas and excellent ice creams and pastries. Being a city on the sea, in many places in Gela you can enjoy fish dishes.
Moderate prices
- 1 Piccadilly bar, Via Palazzi.
- 2 The Mandrake (pub), Via Gioacchino Rossini, 10, ☎ 39 340 355 6350.
- 3 La Capannina (Cafe), Viale Mazara del Vallo, 33.
- 4 Black King (Cafe), Via Europa, 91.
- 5 [link not working]Sins of Gluttony (Pastry Bar), Via Francesco Crispi, 247.
- 6 BeSt Cafè, Piazza Trento, 3, ☎ 39 3917120693.
5-10€. Mon-Fri 05: 00-23: 00, Sat 05: 00-00: 00, Sun 06: 00-23: 00. Bar, ice cream parlor, snack bar and aperitifs.
5-10€. Average prices
- 7 La Brace, Via Palazzi, 210 - 212, ☎ 39 0933 935431. 8/15€.
- 8 Harlequin, Via Alessandro Manzoni, 154, ☎ 39 0933 823394. 8/15€.
- 9 Central Totò Restaurant, 99, Via Generale Cascino, ☎ 39 0933 913104.
- 10 Countercurrent, Federico II di Svevia promenade, ☎ 39 342 708 9652.
Where stay
Average prices
- 1 Ancient Walls Hotel, Via Spagna, 1A, ☎ 39 0933 823437, @[email protected]. 40 € (Sep 2018).
- 2 Hotel Sole, Via Mare, 32, ☎ 39 0933 925292, fax: 39 0933 925292. 90€.
- 3 Villa Keratea, Contrada Settefarine, ☎ 39 347 800 4063. € 87 (Sep 2018).
- 4 Sileno Hotel, Largo Mancino Soldato, ☎ 39 0933 913058. 70 € (Sep 2018).
- 5 Bed & Breakfast 21, Viale Indipendenza Coop. 21 June Pal.G, ☎ 39 348 794 5736. 50 € (Sep 2018).
- 6 La Gorgone B&B, Federico II di Svevia promenade, ☎ 39 346 853 0270.
- 7 Aurora residence, Via Agatocle, 40,, ☎ 39 0933 823455. 59 € (Sep 2018).
- 8 B&B Santiago, Via G. Garibaldi, 145, ☎ 39 340 877 8068.
High prices
- 9 Hotel Villa Peretti, C.da Giardinelli, ☎ 39 0933 924311. 75 € (Sep 2018).
Safety
In Gela there are various police forces:
- Municipal police, Via Ossidiana, 31, ☎ 390933906801.
- Carabinieri, Via Venezia, 441, ☎ 390933915465.
- Police Station, Via Calogero Zucchetto, 7, ☎ 390933816221.
