RANDAZZO
Generic information
Province of: Catania
Elevation: m
Population:
GPS coordinates
Latitude: 37.877709
Longitude: 14.950389
Map
Web site
Url: http://www.comune.randazzo.ct.it
Italian version: www.sicilianelmondo.com
Photos
Description
Randazzo (Sicilian: Rannazzu) is a town 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 town had its own army, which fought in favour of the king against the rebels. In 1210 King Frederick II of Hohenstaufen and his young wife Constance of Aragon sheltered at Randazzo to escape the terrible plague which raged in Palermo.
Randazzo became one of the most densely populated towns in the island, after Palermo and Messina. The town was also divided into three main districts; The Greeks lived in St. Nicola's quarter, the Latins in St. Mary's and the Lombards in St. Martins.
During the Black Death (1575-1580) the population of Randazzo declined and reduced the town to misery. The economy slumped, and Randazzo almost turned into a ghost town. During the Second World War, Randazzo became a victim of Allied bombings, during which about 76% of its buildings were sucked into a vortex.
Randazzo's Clam Bar in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY, has been in business since the 1930's.
Main sights
* Aragonese Gate
* Palazzo Lanza
* Palazzo Scala, a former Royal residence from the 12th century.
* Palazzo Finocchiaro (1509).
* The Castello Svevo ("Hohenstaufen Castle")
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From Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Randazzo&oldid=286616581>.