Biancavilla

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Biancavilla
Template: Infobox municipality in Italy / maintenance / coat of arms missingNo coat of arms available.
Biancavilla (Italy)
Biancavilla
Country Italy
region Sicily
Metropolitan city Catania  (CT)
Local name Biancavilla / Biancavidda
Coordinates 37 ° 39 '  N , 14 ° 52'  E Coordinates: 37 ° 39 '0 "  N , 14 ° 52' 0"  E
height 513  m slm
surface 70 km²
Residents 23,668 (Dec. 31, 2019)
Population density 338 inhabitants / km²
Post Code 95033
prefix 095
ISTAT number 087008
Popular name Biancavillesi
(local: Biancavilloti)
Patron saint San Placido and Maria Ss. dell'Elemosina
Website Biancavilla

Biancavilla is a city in the metropolitan city of Catania in the autonomous region of Sicily in Italy with 23,668 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019).

Location and dates

Biancavilla is 33 kilometers northwest of Catania on the southwestern slopes of Mount Etna . In addition to agriculture, the residents also work in the furniture and clothing industry.

The neighboring municipalities are Adrano , Belpasso , Bronte , Centuripe ( EN ), Nicolosi , Paternò , Randazzo , Regalbuto (EN) and S. Maria di Licodia .

history

The place was founded in 1488 by Arbëresh from what is now the Greek region of Epirus . They are said to have rested on the run in the then fallow area of ​​today's city. Legend has it that they had a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary with them and hung it on a fig tree while they were resting . The next morning the picture was said to have been clasped by branches of the tree, whereupon the refugees decided to ask for permission to settle here, which they were allowed on January 8, 1488 by the Aragonese governors Santapau and Centelles. The name Biancavilla dates back to 1599. Before it was founded, the area was called Callicari or Poggio Rosso, initially Albavilla. It is called "Casalis Callicaris" in a letter dated April 20, 1542, in which the bishop of the region gives the priest Papodato Andrea permission to celebrate a mass.

Most likely, the current name Biancavilla comes from the Count of Adrano Francesco Moncada , who named the place in honor of Queen Bianca of Navarre .

Attractions

The parish church dates from the 18th century. Inside is a late Byzantine icon of Santa Maria dell'Elemosina. The church, bell tower and facade were built from 1889 to 1900. Inside the church of San Francesco there are paintings from the 18th century.

  • Church of Maria Santissima dell'Elemosina of Sada

  • Il Rosario . Architect Sada

Web links

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

Individual evidence

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