Biancavilla
Discovering Biancavilla
Welcome to Biancavilla, a municipality in the metropolitan city of Catania in Sicily. With a population of 22,755 inhabitants, this city is located at the foothills of Mount Etna, at an altitude of 513 meters above sea level. Let's discover all the wonders of this city together.
Physical Geography
The municipality of Biancavilla is situated in the Simeto valley and is adjacent to the Etna Park and the Nebrodi Park. The landscape offers breathtaking views of the hills of the Alto Calatino, and the wooded area of the municipal territory extends along a low mountain area. Biancavilla shares the summit of Mount Etna with nine other municipalities and is located southwest of the Simeto river. The municipal territory covers 3,830 hectares and is also part of ten other piedmont municipalities.
Climate
The climate of Biancavilla is Mediterranean with continental characteristics and significant extremes. Autumns are mild until November, but they begin to get cold towards the end of the month, bringing rain. Winters are cold, and sometimes there are snowfalls that last for several days. Springs are quite cool, with occasional rainfall and occasional hailstorms. Summers are mild and never exceed 39 degrees, characterized by many sunny days with occasional afternoon showers. Nights are quite cool.
Geology
Biancavilla-Montalto Ignimbrite
In the vicinity of the town of Biancavilla, inside the San Filippo Valley, in contact with the dome-mound of Mount Calvary, there is a lava deposit known as the Biancavilla-Montalto ignimbrite. This is a deposit that formed in the Pleistocene following numerous eruptions of Mount Etna.
Fluoro-edenite and carcinogenic risk
Since the late 1990s, the Italian National Institute of Health has conducted investigations due to the high incidence of mesothelioma among the inhabitants of Biancavilla. Once professional asbestos exposure was ruled out for those affected, researchers hypothesized contamination from materials extracted from the Monte Calvario quarry, which had been widely used for the construction of houses and roads.
In conclusion, although this is a beautiful city where you can admire Mount Etna and enjoy the beauty of nature, it is important to consider health risks. However, with the right awareness, the city of Biancavilla can still be a wonderful place to live and visit.
