PALAZZOLO ACREIDE
Palazzolo Acreide (9204 inhabitants, 670 metres above sea
level, Province of Siracusa) stands on the eastern side of Acremonte.
This place was choosen by the Siculi to build their own
village around the 12th century B.C., before the Syracusans
discovered and esteemed it.
According to Tucidide's information, Akrai was the oldest
subcolony founded by the Corinthian settlers around 663-664
B.C., seventy years after the foundation of Siracusa, in a
strategic position on the top of the Iblean mountains,
between the upper valleys of Anapo and Tellaro rivers to
oversee a broad part of the Sicilian territory.
There are many quotations by ancient historians and writers
which refer to the Akrai role in important events of the
Sicilian history.
Akrai reaches its apogee during the wise ruling of Hieron II
(306-215 B.C.).
Akrai was politically subject to its motherland Siracusa, in
fact the only Akrai,s bronze coin (called Akraion) dates
back 241-212 B.C., when Sicily was under Roman rule.
AKRAION COIN
Akrai was indicated as "civitas stipendaria" by Plinius,
meaning a town enforced to pay a fixed tribute to Rome.
The information sources of Akrai have no records of the
imperial period.
During the Byzantine age, Akrai was proclaimed "the most
important Christian centre of eastern Sicily after Siracusa"
and this is witnessed by the great number of catacomb found
in its territory (S. Lucia di Mendola, Bibinello).
Akrai was destroyed by the Arab army of Ased Ibn Al forat
around 827 A.C., and every trace of the ancient town was
lost for centuries.
The population built a new town lower down from Akrai on the
eastern slope of the hill.
This new city was first mentioned in 1145 by the geographer
Edrisi who called it Balansùl or Palatiolum when the Norman
King William II, granted the territory of Palatiolum to
Stephen the Hermit. After that, Palazzolo was often cited in
papal bulls, feudal and barony documents.
Only by the end of the '500, thanks to the studies of
Tommaso Fazello, the ancient site of Akrai was identified.
The Castle of Palazzolo, built on a rock dominating the
Anapo Valley, dates back to the Norman period. There are
only a few ruins of this superb castle which was destroyed
in the 1693 earthquake with most of the town and which was
the home of the Alagona barons and other lords.
The town was rebuilt in the 18th century and the late
original Baroque style of architecture blends with 19th and
early 20th century architecture.
HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS IN
PALAZZOLO ACREIDE
HOW TO REACH US
By CAR:
From Siracusa, by SS.114 "Mare Monti"
By BUS:
From Siracusa bus terminal by AST bus lines
Phone 0039 0931462711
Information 0039 0931464820
Catania Airport
|
