Page 159 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

SOUTHERN SICIL Y  157

period of abandonment, by e Palazzolo Acreide
Frederick II. Today Gela is marred Road map E4. * 9,000. n Town hall
by ugly buildings, industrial (0931-871 260).
plants and a strong anti-Mafia
military presence. However, Originally named Akrai, this
there are the archaeological town, a UNESCO World Heritage
sites: a long stretch of Greek site, has some important
fortifications built by Timoleon Baroque churches and buildings
at Capo So prano and the sacred – the Chiesa Madre di San
precinct and ancient Temple of Nicolò, Palazzo Zocco and
Athena on the Acropolis, all the 18th-century Chiesa
The ruins of the Greek walls at the Capo good introductions to a visit dell’Annunziata. However, the
Soprano headland, Gela to the Museo Archeologico. most interesting sight is the
peaceful plain with the
9 Vittoria excavations of Akrai.
q Chiaramonte
Road map D5. * 54,300. Gulfi
n Pro Loco (0932-992 953).
Road map E4. * 8,000. ∑ comune.
Founded by Vittoria Colonna in chiaramonte-gulfi.gov.it
1603, this agricultural town lies
on the plain between the Ippari This town was founded in the
and Dirillo rivers. In the central 14th century by Manfredi
Piazza del Popolo are the Teatro Chiaramonte, the Count of
Comunale (1877) and Santa Modica, on the steep slopes of
Maria delle Grazie, a Baroque a rise and then developed
church built after the disastrous towards the valley. The Chiesa
1693 earthquake. del Salvatore and Matrice Santa
Maria la Nova are in the centre,
while the Madonna delle Grazie
0 Gela Sanctuary is on the outskirts.
A Baroque balcony in the centre of
Road map D4. * 72,000. V from
Syracuse (892 021). n AAST (0931- w Vizzini Palazzolo Acreide
462 711). Fortifications at Capo
Soprano: Tel 0933-912 626. Road map E4. * 7,000. n Town T Excavations at Akrai
Open 9am–1 hr before sunset. hall (0933-968 211). 2 km (1 mile) from the centre. Tel
Museo Archeologico Comunale: 0931-876 602. Open 9am–1 hr before
Tel 0933-912 626. Open 9am–6pm. The fascination of Vizzini lies sunset (Nov–Apr: 9–1pm, 3:30–5pm).
Closed Mon; winter: Sun & hols. in the small streets and alleys
& (combined with excavations.) of the old town, which has This area was inhabited in 664
Acropolis excava tions: Open 9am–1 hr preserved its atmosphere and BC, when the city was founded
before sunset. & town plan – increasingly rare in by the Syracusans. A small
Sicily because of modern urban theatre stands by the entrance.
According to Greek historian growth. Also worth a look is the The acropolis contains an
Thucydides, Gela was founded fine architecture of the Chiesa agora, two latomie (the
in 688 BC. In the 6th century Madre di San Gregorio with its Intagliata and Intagliatella
BC its inhabitants founded Gothic portal, taken from the quarries, see p140), the ruins
Agrigento. Extending over two destroyed Palazzo di Città. of the Temple of Aphrodite
slopes – the present-day and the so-called Santoni,
Acropolis and the Capo 12 rock-hewn statues
Soprano area – the town representing the
was revived, after a long goddess Cybele.

The theatre at Palazzolo Acreide, a settlement that dates back to the early 7th century BC

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