Giardini-Naxos - Giardini-Naxos

Giardini-Naxos is a city of Sicily.

To know

Geographical notes

The territory is a mainly flat strip, almost rectangular in shape.

Located on the Ionian Sea in eastern Sicily.

It borders to the north and west Taormina, to the east with the Ionian Sea to the south is separated by the Alcantara River with Calatabiano.

The altitude of the center ranges from 5 to 39 m above sea level, the highest point of the municipality reaches 210 m in the Mastrissa district.

Winter is characterized by mildness; in this season the average temperature is around 12 ° C. In December, the days are often sunny and in January-February, which are the relatively coldest months, the average temperature does not differ much from 10 degrees above zero. Exceptionally the thermometer approaches zero degrees Celsius. In these winter months the rare atmospheric precipitations occur mainly. Snow and frost are almost unknown phenomena.

Spring, on the other hand, hastens to come and causes the plants to bloom early; the serenity of the sky is a constant of this season, in which the thermometer rises by a couple of degrees, with a general average of 18 ° C.

In June it was the height of summer; in July-August the maximum temperature is reached, with a summer average of around 28 ° C, in September the temperature decreases significantly.

Autumn is rainier than spring but with the same average temperature of 18 ° C.

The city has a promenade that alternates free beaches with private beaches and is full of restaurants, pizzerias and accommodation facilities.

The original conformation of the bay is of sand and cliffs.

Background

In the current location of Giardini-Naxos, near Capo Schisò, in 734 BC. Chalcidian settlers founded what was long believed to be the first Greek settlement in Sicily. The new colony was given the name of Naxos as the homonymous island in the Aegean Sea. Although it remained a small town it maintained its symbolic value, as an altar was erected in honor of Apollo Archegetes, and it was the starting point of the Greek ambassadors returning to the motherland.

During the Peloponnesian War Naxos sided with Athens, but when in 413 BC the Athenian military expedition to Sicily failed, the Syracusan tyrant Dionysius the Elder had it razed to the ground and built on the hill above Tauromenion (Taormina). The territory was donated to the Sicilians and the inhabitants were sold as slaves.

The name Naxos persisted over time even in Roman times and in the Antonine Itinerary of the third century AD. it is mentioned as a place for the exchange of horses along the consular road towards Syracuse. In the Byzantine period a small inhabited center was formed on the remains of the Greek colony, this became the strategic landing place for nearby Taormina. The period of Arab domination has left numerous toponyms such as that of the nearby river Alcantara or of Capo Schisò itself.

During the 15th century the cultivation of sugar cane spread in the countryside adjacent to the inhabited center and the town began to be militarily protected thanks to the construction of a quadrangular tower on the end of Capo Schisò, of the Vignazza Tower and the expansion of an old medieval castle. In 1719, due to the growing number of inhabitants, the parish community dedicated to Maria Santissima della Recommended was formed.

Giardini from 1 January 1847 obtained autonomy from Taormina and in August 1860 Garibaldi with his troop left from its bay to head to the Calabrian coasts.

From 800 onwards, in addition to fishing, activities related to agriculture, especially citrus fruits, wrought iron and ceramic crafts developed in the area.

To the old name of the municipality (Giardini), on the proposal of the Pro Loco received by the municipal council, "Naxos" was added to remember the seat of the ancient Greek colony, so the name became Giardini-Naxos.

In recent decades these activities have almost completely disappeared and an attempt has been made to reconvert the country's economy by looking towards tourism as the main source of livelihood, building accommodation facilities and exploiting the tourist vocation of the coast. Today Giardini-Naxos is, together with the contiguous Taormina and Letojanni, one of the most popular seaside resorts in eastern Sicily.

How to orient yourself

Corso Umberto is the living room of the city. Cross Giardini Naxos from South to North starting from Piazza San Giovanni to Via Roma, overlook some of the most important buildings of the city, including the Mother Church: S. Maria Recommended, Palazzo dei Naxioti, the Church of S. Maria Immacolata and other historic buildings.

The central historic squares and streets are: Piazza Abate Cacciola, Piazzetta Garibaldi, Piazzetta del Feudo, Piazza San Giovanni, Corso Umberto and Via delle Rimembranze.

Neighborhoods

The districts of the city are:

• Mastrissa
• Ortogrande
• Saja
• Memories
• Saint John
• Mastrociccio
• San Pancrazio
• Schisò
• Recanati
• Mareprovvido
• Pallium
• Chianchitta
• Calcarone
• Bruderi

How to get

By plane

The nearest airport is that of Catania Fontanarossa, from there you will have to continue by other means.

By car

Giardini-Naxos is easily accessible via the A18 Catania motorway - Messina. The junction called Giardini Naxos is located between those of Taormina is Fiumefreddo of Sicily.

On boat

Giardini Naxos has a small port, also used to bring tourists who get off the cruise ships to the mainland.

On the train

Giardini includes two railway stations:

• the Taormina-Giardini Station, actually closer to the center of Giardini-Naxos than to that of Taormina, opened in 1866
• the Alcantara station located in the Chianchitta hamlet.

How to get around

What see

• Nike by Kalkis (Schisò district). It represents the symbol of Giardini Naxos and of the twinning with Chalkis; built by Carmelo Mendola, it was erected in 1965, it also symbolizes the twinning between Giardini Naxos and Calcide Eubea. 
• Church of Santa Maria Recommended (Mother church). 
• Statue of Teocles. Statue of the founder of Naxos 
• Naxos Archaeological Park. 
• 37.82357415.2718381 Schisò Castle. Military fortification built in the Middle Ages.  
• Church of Santa Maria Immacolata. 
• San Pancrazio Church. 
• Port of Naxos. It represents the symbol of the twinning with the Cyclades (2000). 
• Olympic temple. 
• Apollo Archageta Park. 
• Archaic City. 
• City of the 5th century. 
• Monument to the fallen of the First World War. Made in 1923 by the sculptor Anacleto Brunetto. 
• Archaeological Museum. 
• Natural History Museum. 
• Museum of the sea. 
• Mother Church of Santa Maria Recommended. 
• Church of Santa Maria Immacolata. 
• San Pancrazio Church. 
• Sant'Antonino Church. 

Events and parties

• Winter Carnival. 
• Summer Carnival. 
• fair. April 1st. 
• Fish festival. 
• Naxoslegge. Festival of narratives, reading and books. 
• Children's film festival. 
• Feast of the Madonna: S. Maria Recommended. September 8. Patronal feast, it is solemnly celebrated on 8 September, the day of Mary's birth. It is tradition that the party is not postponed. It is articulated in the announcement given on 25 August (on the 25th of each month the Marian day is celebrated in the parish) and in the novena from 30 August to 7 September, in which for some years now there is no lack of moment to remember the bond of the Registered letter. with the sailors, through the celebration of Mass at the small port Saja and the commemoration of the arrival of the simulacrum. September 7 is the day dedicated to the descent of the simulacrum on the tracks (once made of wood, today of iron), to be enthroned after the symbolic welcome of the parish priest. The offering of flowers and the kiss to the statue complete the ceremony. September 8 passes in the celebrations of masses and in the solemn concelebration at 10.30, with the offering of the candle by the mayor in the name of the city and the offering of gifts by the fishermen. After the evening mass at 18.00 follows the exit of the simulacrum on the fercolo the procession begins through the streets of the town from the Saja district to Schisó. The greeting and blessing with the relic conclude the procession lasting about two and a half hours. On 9 September the ascent of the simulacrum to the main altar, the usual seat of the statue of the Registered letter, concludes the celebrations. 
• Feast of St. John the Baptist (San Giovanni and Mastrociccio districts). June 24. It is the oldest in Giardini Naxos after the great feast of the patron saint of the city S. Maria Recommended already celebrated since the twentieth century. It is solemnly celebrated on June 24, the day of John's birth. It is articulated in the announcement given on June 14 and in the novenary from June 15 to 23. June 15 is the day dedicated to the beginning of the novena and the descent of the simulacrum on the tracks. On June 24, the first at 08:00, the second at 11:00 and the third solemn mass at 19:00 around 16:00, the band passes through the streets creating an atmosphere of absolute celebration . After mass at 7:00 pm, the simulacrum on the vara follows and the procession that crosses the San Giovanni and Mastrociccio districts begins. The procession ends after 2 hours of intense devotion and after returning to the church, after the thanksgiving prayer there is the ascent of the simulacrum in the niche, the usual seat of the statue of the Baptist. At the end of this phase the celebrations are closed. 
• Feast of San Pancrazio of Taormina (San Pancrazio, Recanati Mareprovvido and Schisò districts). Second Sunday in August. We remember the re-enactment of the landing of San Pancrazio in Giardini Naxos around the year 100. The day of the feast passes with the ordinary Eucharistic celebrations (08:00, 10:00 and 19:00). Immediately after the mass, the procession that brings the saint to the port of the city begins, there in a simulacrum he is transferred to the fishing boat that takes him in procession across the bay of Naxos a wreath of flowers is placed at sea in memory of the dead of the Mare Nostrum. After the return there is the solemn Mass which closes the celebrations. 
• Feast of St. Anthony of Padua (Ortogrande district). 
• Feast of the Madonna del Carmelo (Calcarone and Bruderi districts). 
• Feast of the Madonna: S. Maria Immacolata. 
• Varette processions. Good Friday. 

What to do

• Municipal gym (in Mastrociccio). 
• Municipal gym (in Bruderi). 
• Municipal gym (to Schisò). 

Shopping

How to have fun

• Municipal sports field (in Calcarone). 
• Pallium Stadium (in Pallium). 
• Nautical company (in Giardini). 

Where to eat

Known food of the place is the granita; in the seaside villages there are many restaurants offering menus based only on fresh fish.

Where stay

Safety

How to keep in touch

Post office

• 37.83701815.2706341 Giardini Naxos center post office, Via Erice, 3, ☎ 39 0942 578650, fax: 39 0942 551789. Mon-Sat 8: 20-13: 35. Equipped with locker. 
• 37.82791315.2682842 Giardini Naxos Post Office 1, Via Naxos, 151, ☎ 39 0942 571211, fax: 39 0942 571211. Tue, Thu, Sat 8: 20-13: 35. 

Around

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Giardini-Naxos
• Commons contains images or other files on Giardini-Naxos

Draft : the article respects the standard template contains useful information for a tourist and gives brief information on the tourist destination. Header and footer are correctly filled out.