Grammichele

Grammichele
Comune
Comune di Grammichele
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Coat of arms
Grammichele Location of Grammichele in Italy
Coordinates:
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province / Metropolitan city	Catania (CT)
Government
• Mayor	Salvatore Canzoniere(since June 16, 2013)
Area
• Total	30 km2 (10 sq mi)
Elevation	520 m (1,710 ft)
Population (31 December 2010)
• Total	13,404
• Density	450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Grammichelesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	95042
Dialing code	0933
Patron saint	San Michele Arcangelo
Saint day	May 8
Website	Official website

Grammichele (Sicilian: Grammicheli, Greek: Echetle (meaning "plowshare"); Latin: Echetla, Ochula; Medieval: Occhiolà) is a town and comune in the province of Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is located at the feet of the Hyblaean Mountains, some 13 kilometres (8 mi) from Caltagirone.

History

It was built in 1693, after the destruction by an earthquake of the old town of Occhialà, to its north, which, on account of the similarity of name, is generally identified with Echetla, a frontier city between Syracusan and Carthaginian territory in the time of Hiero II, and which appears to have been originally a Sicel city in which Greek civilization prevailed from the 5th century onwards. Being laid out on a hexagonal street plan, it is one of several Val di Noto towns with distinctive layouts. On July 15, 1943, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division fought its first battle against German troops during the Battle of Sicily at Grammichele. The name of the town was later granted as a Battle Honour to three regiments of the Canadian Forces.

File:Grammichele Chiesa Madre.JPG

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Main sights

To the east of Grammichele a cave shrine of Demeter, with fine votive terracottas, has been discovered. Other sights include the Mother Church, dedicated to St. Michael, and the church of the Calvary.

Sources

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: