Acate

Acate
Country	Italy
region	Sicily
Free community consortium	Ragusa  (RG)
Local name	Acati / Vìschiri
Coordinates	37 ° 1 ′  N , 14 ° 30 ′  E Coordinates: 37 ° 1 ′ 0 ″  N , 14 ° 30 ′ 0 ″  E
height	199  m slm
surface	101.4 km²
Residents	11,486 (Dec. 31, 2019)
Population density	113 inhabitants / km²
Post Code	97011
prefix	0932
ISTAT number	088001
Popular name	Acatesi
Patron saint	San Biagio
Website	Official website

Acate - Piazza Libertà and Chiesa Madre

Acate (until 1938 Biscari) is an Italian municipality in the Ragusa Free Community Consortium in the autonomous region of Sicily with 11,486 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019).

Location and dates

Acate is 34 kilometers northwest of Ragusa . The inhabitants live mainly from agriculture. Above all citrus fruits, artichokes, olives, tomatoes and wine are grown.

The districts of Acate are Macconi and Marina di Acate.

The neighboring municipalities are Caltagirone ( CT ), Chiaramonte Gulfi , Gela ( CL ), Mazzarrone (CT) and Vittoria .

history

The place has existed since the 13th century. In the middle of the 17th century, the settlement was moved to a higher place because of the malaria- contaminated swamps in the valley. Acate was badly damaged by the earthquake in 1693, but was rebuilt in the following years. Until 1938 the place was called Biscari. The place got its current name after the agate rock that was found in large quantities in the Dirillo river . Acate-born residents still refer to themselves as "Viscarani"; the "b" becomes "v" in the local dialect.

In the summer of 1943, a war crime committed by US troops during World War II occurred here , in which more than seventy Italian soldiers were shot after their capture.

Attractions

The Church of San Nicola dates from the 17th century. After the destruction by the earthquake in 1693, it was rebuilt a little smaller, although the facade was not completed until 1950. The church is located in the Piazza della Liberta, opposite the castle, which was built in 1454 and belonged to the Paternò family from the 17th century , and since 1633 Prince of Biscari. The fort has a square floor plan and was heavily modified in the 18th century during the renovation work after the earthquake. Next to the castle is the church of San Vincenzo with the remains of Saint Vinzenzo.

• 

  Chiesa San Nicola

• 

  Biscari Castle

• 

  Chiesa di San Vincenzo

Web links

Commons : Acate  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• About Acate (Italian)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Statistiche demografiche ISTAT. Monthly population statistics of the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica , as of December 31 of 2019.