Vizzini

Vizzini was also the name of a character in William Golding's novel The Princess Bride.

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Comune
Location of {{{name}}}
Comune di {{{name}}} Location of {{{official_name}}} in Italy Comune di {{{name}}} Comune di {{{name}}} (Sicily)
Coordinates: 37°10′N 14°45′E
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province	Catania (CT)
Frazioni	Camemi,Vizzini Scalo
Government
• Mayor	Vito Saverio Cortese (From:2002May 28)
Area
• Total	126.75 km2 (48.94 sq mi)
Population  (December 31, 2004)
• Total	6,072
Demonym	Vizzinesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	95049
Dialing code	0933
Patron saint	St. Gregory
Saint day	March 12
Website	Comune di Vizzini

Vizzini is a town and comune in the province of Catania, on the island of Sicily. It s located 60 km from Catania in the Hyblaean Mountains, on the most northwesterly slopes of Monte Lauro.

The commune territory is bounded by the comuni of Buccheri, Francofonte, Giarratana, Licodia Eubea, Militello in Val di Catania, Mineo.

History

Bidis, a Roman city mentioned by Pliny and Cicero, stood here in a territory that has been inhabited since prehistoric times.

The modern town developed in the Middle Ages around a now non-extant castle, as a fief of various lords, including the Chiaromontes and the Schittinos, although for many years it was also part of the royal domain.

Main sights

The Arab layout of the town can be clearly seen passing from Via Verga to Via San Gregorio Magno and proceeding as far as Largo della Matrice, a square with a statue of St. Gregory in the middle and the Chiesa Madre at one side.

The portal on the left face of the church, in splendid 15th century Gothic-Catalan style, probably came from the old Town Hall, destroyed by the earthquake in 1693; in the interior there are late 18th century stuccos and a wooden ceiling by Natale Bonaiuto, as well as two paintings (The Martyrdom of St. Laurence and the Madonna delle Mercede) by Filippo Paladini (or Paladino), born in Florence about 1544. Another painting by Paladino, The Deposition (1607), is in the Chiesa del Convento dei Cappuccini.

Nearby is the Chiesa di Sant'Agata, rebuilt in the 18th century on the site of a previous 15th century building and houses a pipe organ created around 1770.

The church of San Giovanni Battista is from the 18th century. The stuccos decorating the interior are by Natale Bonaiuto (also mentioned with reference to the Chiesa Madre).

Antonello Gagini is present in the Chiesa dei Minori Osservanti, with a fine statue of the Madonna and Child (1527).

Culture

The writer Giovanni Verga used Vizzini as the setting for his Cavalleria Rusticana and Mastro Don Gesualdo, describing places and scenes that are still recognizable (the prickly pears of Cunziria, and in a sloping alley the house of the Trao family).

Economy

The economy of the commune is mainly agricultural (cereals, prickly pears, vegetables, sumac). Other activities include handmade shoes and carpentry.

Transportation

The railway station Vizzini-Licodia is situated 6 km outside the city in the frazione of Vizzini Scalo.

References

• Sicily and Its Islands, 2004 - Ugo La Rosa editore

External link

• Template:It icon InfoVizzini.it - "The website of the Citizens of Vizzini"(please note this is not the official comune site)
• Template:En icon Vizzini Genealogy(Birth / Marriage / Death indices 1820-1860 / Military Draft Index 1840-1913)
• Template:En iconTowards a typology of decorative façades in 18th-century Sicilian organs
• Template:En iconEndesa inaugurates first Sicily wind farm (in Vizzini)