Aci Castello

Aci Castello (Zip Code 95021) is 208 Km. distant from Agrigento, 136 Km. from Caltanissetta, 9 Km. from Catania, which is the province it belongs to, 105 Km. from Enna, 87 Km. from Messina, 258 Km. from Palermo, 113 Km. from Ragusa, 67 Km. from Siracusa, 365 Km. from Trapani.

The municipality counts 19.122 inhabitants, its surface measures 865 hectares, and its population density is of 2210 inhabitants per square kilometre. It rises over a flat area, 15 meters above the sea-level.

The Town Hall is located in via Dante n. 28, tel. ++39 095-7111654 fax. ++39 095-7111620. E-mail address is: acicastello.sindaco@tau.it.

An important seaside resort, Aci Castello boasts a rich production of citrus fruits, olives, grapes, almonds, and cereals. Cattle breeding is flourishing because of the numerous pasture areas. The outstanding handicraft work includes wooden objects.

The name Aci Castello derives from the homonymous Castle situated on a nearby hill of lava rock, built by the Normans in 1076. The first suburb was founded around the castle and was bestowed to the Bishops of Catania by the Norman Count Ruggero. Approximately in 1170, it was completely destroyed by a devastating earthquake, and was repopulated no sooner than 1530, as the nearby towns of Ficarazzi and Aci Trezza were annexed. In 1647, it belonged to the noble Massa family, who owned it until the abolition of the feudal regime.

The most architecturally interesting monuments are the Chiesa Madre, preserving noteworthy frescoes by Pietro Vasta (1697-1760), and the Norman Castle, today dwelling of a Museum, built with lava rock from mountain Etna.

It is interesting to remember that Procopio dei Coltelli, who was born in Aci Trezza, which today is a fraction of Aci Castello, founded Europe's first literary café in France, the Café Procope, in 1686, introducing Sicily's excellent ice-cream.
The charming town of Aci Trezza is also important as far as literature is concerned: in fact, Giovanni Verga's famous novel "I Malavoglia" was set there.