Francavilla di Sicilia
Encyclopedia
Francavilla di Sicilia is a town and comune
in the Province of Messina
on the island of Sicily
, Italy
.
It has a population of about 4,000 people and is situated in the southern part of the province, close to the northern slopes of Mount Etna
. The distance to Messina is about 50 km, and the town is about 70 km away from Catania airport
. It is located in the valley of the River Alcantara
between Taormina
and Randazzo
. Taormina and the Mediterranean Sea are about 15 km to the south-east.
Neighboring towns and villages include: Antillo
, Castiglione di Sicilia
, Fondachelli-Fantina
, Malvagna
, Montalbano Elicona
, Motta Camastra
, Novara di Sicilia
and Tripi
.
In 1092 the Abbey of San Salvatore di Placa was built, and the town grew around it.
On June 20, 1719 a major battle
was fought between Spanish and Austrians in the War of the Quadruple Alliance
, leaving 8000 dead and wounded.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the Province of Messina
Province of Messina
Messina is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy. Its capital is the city of Messina.-Geography and demography :...
on the island of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
It has a population of about 4,000 people and is situated in the southern part of the province, close to the northern slopes of Mount Etna
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently standing high, though this varies with summit eruptions; the mountain is 21 m higher than it was in 1981.. It is the highest mountain in...
. The distance to Messina is about 50 km, and the town is about 70 km away from Catania airport
Catania-Fontanarossa Airport
-See also:*Palermo Airport Falcone e Borsellino - also known as Punta Raisi Airport, another of Sicily's international airports* Trapani Birgi Airport Vincenzo Florio - another of Sicily's international airports...
. It is located in the valley of the River Alcantara
Alcântara River
The Alcântara River is a river of Rio de Janeiro state in southeastern Brazil.-References:*...
between Taormina
Taormina
Taormina is a comune and small town on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Italy, in the Province of Messina, about midway between Messina and Catania. Taormina has been a very popular tourist destination since the 19th century...
and Randazzo
Randazzo
Randazzo is a town and comune of Sicily, Italy, in the province of Catania. It is situated at the northern foot of Mount Etna, 70 km NW of Catania by rail. It is the nearest town to the summit of Etna, and is one of the points from which the ascent may be made.-History:In the 13th century the...
. Taormina and the Mediterranean Sea are about 15 km to the south-east.
Neighboring towns and villages include: Antillo
Antillo
Antillo is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 170 km east of Palermo and about 35 km southwest of Messina...
, Castiglione di Sicilia
Castiglione di Sicilia
Castiglione di Sicilia is a comune in the Province of Catania in Sicily.-Geography:...
, Fondachelli-Fantina
Fondachelli-Fantina
Fondachelli-Fantina is a comune in the Sicilian Province of Messina. Situated between Novara and Francavilla di Sicilia, in the southern Peloritani mountains, it rises on an inland area and is 604m above sea level. The community also borders the municipalities of Antillo and Rodì Milici...
, Malvagna
Malvagna
Malvagna is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 150 km east of Palermo and about 50 km southwest of Messina...
, Montalbano Elicona
Montalbano Elicona
Montalbano Elicona is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 150 km east of Palermo and about 50 km southwest of Messina...
, Motta Camastra
Motta Camastra
Motta Camastra is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 160 km east of Palermo and about 45 km southwest of Messina...
, Novara di Sicilia
Novara di Sicilia
Novara di Sicilia is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 160 km east of Palermo and about 40 km southwest of Messina...
and Tripi
Tripi
Tripi is a town and comune in the province of Messina . It is located on the site of Abacaenum, an ancient Greek colony....
.
History
In the vicinity of the town artefacts have been found dating back to the 5th century BC.In 1092 the Abbey of San Salvatore di Placa was built, and the town grew around it.
On June 20, 1719 a major battle
Battle of Francavilla
The Battle of Francavilla was fought on 20 June 1719 near the city of Francavilla di Sicilia in Sicily, Italy between Spain and Austria as part of the War of the Quadruple Alliance.-Prelude:...
was fought between Spanish and Austrians in the War of the Quadruple Alliance
War of the Quadruple Alliance
The War of the Quadruple Alliance was a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife, Elisabeth Farnese, and his chief minister Giulio Alberoni to retake territories in Italy and to claim the French throne. It saw the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria , and...
, leaving 8000 dead and wounded.
Main sights
- Gole dell'Alcantara. This is a canyon on the river Alcantara, which over the centuries found its way through the lava stones of Mount EtnaMount EtnaMount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, close to Messina and Catania. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently standing high, though this varies with summit eruptions; the mountain is 21 m higher than it was in 1981.. It is the highest mountain in...
and which flows close to the town. Between Francavilla and Motta CamastraMotta CamastraMotta Camastra is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 160 km east of Palermo and about 45 km southwest of Messina...
it reaches its most remarkable point: a canyon, partly cave-like, about 50m deep and including characteristic lava rocks. - Chiesa dell'Annunziatain the centre of the town.
- Convent of the Capuchins, near the cemetery.
- Ruins of the medieval castle on the hill above the town.
- Archaeological excavations (ancient Greeks).
Traditional events
- Last Sunday of August: Celebration of Saint Euplio.
- December 4: Celebration of the town's patron saint, Saint BarbaraSaint BarbaraSaint Barbara, , Feast Day December 4, known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an early Christian saint and martyr....
. - Good FridayGood FridayGood Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
procession (every 4 years) - Nativity PlayNativity playA Nativity play or Christmas pageant is a play which recounts the story of the Nativity of Jesus. It is usually performed at Christmas, the feast of the Nativity.-Liturgical:...
- Carnival