Militello in Val di Catania

Militello in Val di Catania
—  Comune  —
Comune di Militello in Val di Catania
Coat of arms
Militello in Val di Catania Location of Militello in Val di Catania in Italy
Coordinates: 37°17′N 14°47′E / 37.283°N 14.783°E / 37.283; 14.783
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province	Catania (CT)
Government
– Mayor	Francesco Spataro
Area
– Total	62.2 km2 (24 sq mi)
Elevation	413 m (1,355 ft)
Population (March 2009)[1]
– Total	7,939
– Density	127.6/km2 (330.6/sq mi)
Demonym	Militellesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
– Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	95043
Dialing code	095
Patron saint	Santissimo Salvatore and Santa Maria della Stella
Saint day	August 18 and September 8
Website	Official website

Militello in Val di Catania (Sicilian: Militeddu) is a comune (municipality) in the province of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 160 km southeast of Palermo and about 35 km southwest of Catania, on the last slopes of the Iblean Mountains. It has a railways station on the line Catania-Gela.

History

Despite remains of prehistorical settlements and legends of a Roman foundation, the first mention of Militello dates from 1000 AD, when it became a marquisate under the Cammarana.^{[clarification needed]}

The golden age of Militello was during the early 17th century, under the government of Prince Francesco Branciforte. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693, but the subsequent restoration added numerous architectural and artistic works of art.

Main sights

Together with other cities of the Val di Noto, Militello has been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List. Its main artistical attractions include:

Churches

• Mother Church of San Nicolò and Santissimo Salvatore (18th century)
• Santa Maria la Vetere, with a 1506 portal by Antonello Gagini
• Madonna della Catena (17th century), with a 16th century niche
• Abbey of San Benedetto (17th century)
• Sant'Antonio da Padova, with a bell tower from 1719
• Santa Maria della Stella (18th century)
• Santissimi Angeli Custodi late 18th century, with a precious ceramics pavement

Palaces

• Barresi Branciforte Castle, with the Fountain of the Nymph Zizza (17th century)
• Palazzo Baldanza-Denaro (17th century)
• Palazzo Niceforo (18th century)
• Palazzo Baldanza (19th century)
• Palazzo Majorana della Nicchiara
• Palazzo Tineo
• Palazzo Reburdone
• Palazzo Reina

References

1. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.

Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily) *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Country	Italy
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, ii, iv, v
Reference	398
Region **	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	2002 (20th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO

External links

• Official website