Santa Venerina

Santa Venerina (Zip Code 95010) is 223 Km. distant from Agrigento, 151 Km. from Caltanissetta, 24 Km. from Catania, which is the province it belongs to, 116 Km. from Enna, 69 Km. from Messina, 267 Km. from Palermo, 128 Km. from Ragusa, 82 Km. from Siracusa, 374 Km from Trapani.

The municipality counts 7.692 inhabitants, its surface measures 1.879 hectares, and its population density counts 409 inhabitants per square kilometre.

It rises over a coastal hilly area, 337 meters above the sea-level.

The Town Hall is located in piazza Regina Elena, tel. ++39 095-953717 fax. ++39 095-7001101.

The local agricultural production is based on the cultivation of wine grapes, fruit, citrus fruits, and walnuts.

Already inhabited during the Byzantine and Roman era, as testified by the remains of ancient thermal baths and of an oratorial, that date back to those years, the land of Santa Venerina was annexed to that of the nearby town of Acireale until 1934, when it achieved the constitution of its own municipality.

Its name is related to Acireale's Patron Saint, Santa Venera, modified by an affectionate nick-name.

The Chiesa Matrice is dedicated to Santa Venera, preserving paintings of the eighteenth century painted by Alessandro (1720-1793) and Pietro Paolo (1697-1760) Vasta.

In the bordering district called Dàgala del Re, it is possible to admire the remains of a small Christian temple characterized by parietal paintings.

Very interesting are also the Church of Rosario, the Church of Santo Stefano and the Church of Bongiardo.

Among the local events, the most interesting is the Presepio Vivente (Live Crèche), organized annually in the month of December, in the town's square.