Lentini

Lentini (Zip Code 96016) is 209 Km. distant from Agrigento, 141 Km. from Caltanissetta, 30 Km. from Catania, 112 Km. from Enna, 126 Km. from Messina, 273 Km. from Palermo, 74 Km. from Ragusa, 46 Km. from Siracusa, that is the province it belongs to, 372 Km. from Trapani.

Copyright © Luigi Nifosì

The municipality has 26.517 inhabitants, its surface measures 21.584 hectares and its population density counts 123 inhabitants for square kilometre.

It rises on a flat area, 56 metres above the sea level.

The Town Hall is located in piazza Duomo, tel. ++39 0959-41600 fax. ++39 0959-45366. E-mail address is: info@comune.lentini.sr.it.

It is mainly an agriculture centre and produces wheat, citrus fruits and olives.

The town was founded in 729 BC by the Greeks who called it Leontinoi.

In the 6th century is was dominion of the tyrants from Siracusa.

Copyright © Luigi Nifosì

It was set free in 427 BC thanks to the Athenians, called on for help by the great rethor Gorgia.

It was devastated by the Siracusans and the Carthaginians in 406 BC and sacked by the Romans in 214 BC.

In the 7th century, under the Byzantine it was a diocese. Later, it was conquered by the Normans and in the 13th century it was one of the most important state properties.

The earthquakes in 1542 and 1693 strongly damaged the village and its economy. The town was later rebuilt right in the same area.

Copyright © Luigi Nifosì

Some monuments are artistically very important: the Mother Church of St. Alfio (18th century), the church of the Holy Trinity, the ruins of the Castellaccio dated back to the 13th century and the Archaeological Museum.

Amongst the most illustrious personalities we mention the philosopher Gorgia da Lentini, the poet Jacopo da Lentini, who introduce in Italy the sonnet, the architect Frederick II of Swabia, and the fencing champion Michele Alaimo.