Historical centres: Randazzo

70 km da Catania - al. 765m - sup. 20.484 ha - ab. 11.729

This town comes within the Acian orbit and almost constitutes the border between the maritime and the mountain areas. This feature is emphasized geographically by its position almost on the watershed between the Alcantara and Simeto rivers. The passage of the Consolare road, in the 1800s reinforced this function and made the town a throughpoint in the sea-bound transport of goods from the northwest slopes of Etna. Randazzo's origins would seem to be Byzantine, bur we can conjecture on even earlier beginnings. It was an important military fortress during the war follonwing the Sicilian Vespers. In 1252 it was a military base of Peter of Aragon, responsible for the Porta Aragonese, still visible in the remains of the military walls. Randazzo is among those towns that have preserved their medieval appearance (which, with the dark lava building material, defines its character) because they have always been spared during eruptions. The town underwent its most serious destruction during the last world war when its strategic position, which had encouraged its development in tbe past, transformed it into the last German bulwark on the island. Randazzo was the point of confluence of three cultural groups - Greeks, Latins and Lombards - who, up until the 1500s, spoke different dialects and, up until the beginning of this century, required tbe alternating of the mother church between tbe representative three churches (Santa Maria, San Nicolò and San Martino). The first dates to 1239, but has undergone various alterations (inside there are sixteenth- and seventeenth-century paintings including a view of the city from the 1500s); the second, once the seat of the civic assembly, was rebuilt in 1500 and was damaged by bombing ( inside there are sixteenth-century marble reliefs by A. Gagini, while outside and opposite is the statue of " Old Randazzo"); tbe third church was also destroyed by the bombs and later restored (inside there are sculptures from the 1500s of Gagini's school). In front of this last there is evidence of the medieval citadel in the form of a square tower and remains of crenellated walls. There are also many noble buildings including: Palazzo Scala (formerly a royal summer home in Norman-Swabian times damaged by the 1693 earthquake and almost totally rebuilt); the Casa Spitaleri; the remains of Palazzo Lanza of the 1400s; Palazzo Finocchiaro (formerly Clarentano) from the early 1500s. The Municipio [Town Hall] building - built in 1610 as a convent - is also of bistoric interest. The most important cultural institution is the Museo Vagliasindi with interesting archaeological vase exhibits. Today Randazzo is a holiday and agriculrural centre concentrating on vine, oil and hazelnut production.

Provincial Tourism Board of Catania
http://www.apt-catania.com
E-mail : apt@apt-catania.com