Augusta

Augusta (Zip Code 96011) is 268 Km. distant from Agrigento, 179 Km. from Caltanissetta, 41 Km. from Catania, 138 Km. from Enna, 137 Km. from Messina, 290 Km. from Palermo, 113 Km. from Ragusa, 32 Km. from Siracusa, that is the province it belongs to,389 Km. from Trapani.

The municipality has 33.897 inhabitants, its surface measures 10.933 hectares and its population density counts 310 inhabitants for square kilometre. It rises over a flat area, 15 metres above the sea level.

The Town Hall is located in via Umberto I n. 104, tel. ++39 0931-980111 fax. ++39 0931-980232. E-mail address is: comune.augusta@augol.it.

It is mainly an agricultural centre, and its cultivations are citrus fruits, olive and grapes. In these last few years many industries have been created along the coast.

Its name was given by Frederick II of Swabia, the "August", who founded it in 1232 and "Barbarossa" turned it into a harbor and trade centre. Contended for a long time between Aragonese and Angevins, in the 14th century the town became Count Moncada of Montecateno's property.

In the 16th century, to defend the town from the Turkish attacks, the forts Garcia, Vittoria and Avalos were built. Damaged in 1676 by the French-spanish war, the town was rebuilt and the castle was surrounded by thicker walls. Being destroyed by the 1693 earthquake, it was rebuilt once again.

The most interesting monuments are the castle of Frederick II of Swabia, built between 1232 and 1242, the Dome started in the 17th century and finished in the 18th century, and the Spanish gate (18th century).

Native from Augusta is Father Paolo Liggeri who in World War II helped hundreds Hebrews and victims of political persecution to escape to Switzerland. For this reason he was arrested and deported in a concentration camp. For his courage he received a special encomium by Pope Paolo VI.