Chiaramonte Gulfi

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Chiaramonte Gulfi
Ciaramunti
Comune
Comune di Chiaramonte Gulfi
Chiaramonte Gulfi view.jpg
View of Chiaramonte Gulfi from Mount Arcibessi.
Chiaramonte Gulfi-Stemma.svg
Coat of arms
Location of Chiaramonte Gulfi
Chiaramonte Gulfi
Italy provincial location map 2016.svg
Red pog.svg
Chiaramonte Gulfi
Location of Chiaramonte Gulfi in Italy
Italy Sicily location map IT.svg
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Chiaramonte Gulfi
Chiaramonte Gulfi (Sicily)
Coordinates: 37°01′52″N14°42′10″E / 37.03111°N 14.70278°E / 37.03111; 14.70278
Country Italy
Region Sicily
Province Ragusa (RG)
Frazioni Piano dell'Acqua, Roccazzo, Sperlinga
Government
 • MayorMario Cutello
Area
[1]
 • Total126 km2 (49 sq mi)
Elevation
668 m (2,192 ft)
Population
 (30 November 2017) [2]
 • Total8,137
 • Density65/km2 (170/sq mi)
Demonym Chiaramontani
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
97012
Dialing code 0932
Patron saintSan Vito and La Madonna di Gulfi
Saint day15 June
Website Official website
Sanctuary of Gulfi. Santuario di Gulfi.jpg
Sanctuary of Gulfi.
The Northern Gate called Arco dell'Annunziata. Arcoa.jpg
The Northern Gate called Arco dell'Annunziata.

Chiaramonte Gulfi (Sicilian: Ciaramunti) is a town and comune in the province of Ragusa, Sicily, southern Italy.

Contents

Geography

Chiaramonte Gulfi is located on a hill-top 15 kilometres (9 mi) north of Ragusa at an altitude of 668 metres (2,192 ft) above sea level. The highest point is on Monte Arcibessi at 907 metres (2,976 ft). Its hamlets (frazioni) are the villages of Piano dell'Acqua, Roccazzo and Sperlinga.

The church of San Vito. Church of Santo Vito, Chiaramonte Gulfi.jpg
The church of San Vito.

The town is also called Balcony of Sicily for its panoramic position, with views over the Valley of the Ippari and its towns (Comiso, Vittoria, Acate) and all the way to the Mediterranean Sea if looking south, as far as Mount Etna in direction north and to the Erean Mountains with Caltagirone if looking west.

History

In the area numerous archeological sites from the Bronze Age and Iron Age have been found, as well as ruins dating to the Greek Archaic era and Hellenistic era. Also Roman, Byzantine and medieval testimonies can be found.

The city was founded by the Greek colonists from Syracuse in the 7th century BC with the name of Akrillai . Destroyed a first time by the Carthaginians in 406 BC, it was rebuilt during the Timoleonic era. In 213 BC Akrillai was the location of battle in which the Syracusan army, led by Hippokrates, was defeated by the Roman army led by the Consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus. Thenceforth the city of Akrillai was part of the Roman province of Sicily, its name being changed to Acrillae. [3]

The ancient town was destroyed a second time by the Arabs under Asad ibn al-Furat in 827 AD, and the name Acrillae disappeared. The rebuilt centre was known by the Arabic name of Gulfi, [4] which means "pleasurable place".

In 1299 Gulfi was besieged and captured by Roger de Lauria for the Angevines during the War of the Vesper; Manfredi Chiaramonte, who had been named Count of Modica by the Aragonese King Frederick III, moved the survivors to an upper location, called Baglio, which he fortified and protected with a castle.

In 1593 the town had grown outside the walls and had 5,711 inhabitants. It was nearly entirely destroyed by an earthquake in 1693, and was subsequently rebuilt.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18617,986—    
18718,217+2.9%
18818,645+5.2%
19019,545+10.4%
191111,936+25.0%
192114,071+17.9%
193111,937−15.2%
193611,143−6.7%
YearPop.±%
195111,364+2.0%
196110,014−11.9%
19718,670−13.4%
19818,227−5.1%
19918,424+2.4%
20018,099−3.9%
20118,224+1.5%
20218,024−2.4%
Source: ISTAT

Main sights

Economy

The local economy is based on agriculture, mainly olives, vineyards, vegetables, almonds and the raising of pigs and cattle. The area of Chiaramonte is also known for its olive oil that gained the Protected Geographical Status.

See also

Twin towns — sister cities

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References

  1. ↑ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ↑ Population data Istat, 31 December 2006
  3. ↑ William Smith, ed. (1854). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography.
  4. ↑ Sicily. Michelin Tyre. 2009. p. 144.

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