Palagonia
Greetings to Palagonia: Introduction
Hello friends! Today I want to tell you about Palagonia, a municipality in the metropolitan city of Catania, in Sicily. With a population of 15634 inhabitants, Palagonia is a truly interesting place, especially for its magnificent citrus groves. Are there other things you don't know yet about this city? Read on and let's discover together!
Origin of the name
The name Palagonia seems to be linked to the mythological figures of the Palici, twin demigods of geysers and thermal springs. In Byzantine Greek, Palagonia is called Pelagonìa, while in the local dialect it is called Palaunìa. The name seems to be derived from the ancient Sicilian city of Paliké through the form Palikèa nea.
History
Palagonia has a long history that dates back to prehistoric times. It seems that Paliké, near today's Palagonia, was founded in 453 BC by Ducezio, who made it the capital of his state. At the time of the Sicilians, Paliké was probably already an important political and religious center. Here was located a famous sanctuary dedicated to the Palici gods. Tradition has it that the gods were born from the sulfurous waters of Lake Naftia, of volcanic origin. The temple dedicated to them was probably located on the shores of the lake itself. Today, the lake, also known as the Palici Mofete, is not visible as its gases are industrially exploited. In the area there is also a monitoring station for the flow of gas emanating from the soils of Mount Etna. During the Middle Ages the site fell under the Normans and in 1169, Count Ruggero included the fief and the territory within the archdiocese of Syracuse. Between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, Palagonia belonged to some of the most important aristocratic families in Sicily, such as Alagona, Ventimiglia, Passaneto, etc. In 1407, Giacomo Gravina became lord of the fief and the Gravina-Cruyllas family took control of Palagonia until the death of Francesco Paolo Gravina, eighth and last prince of Palagonia, in 1854.
Places of interest
At the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, some buildings of notable architectural value were built in neoclassical and liberty style. Palazzo Ponte in Via Umberto was the home of Prof. Gaetano Ponte, founder of the first vulcanology chair in Europe, and housed a geodynamic observatory. Palazzo Blandini, on the other hand, has recently been restored to house a small municipal museum. Palazzo Politini is located on Via Duca degli Abruzzi and Palazzo Blandini is the former seat of the Ursulines, located in Piano Barresi. Here is also the birthplace of the brothers Gaetano and Giovanni Blandini, respectively bishops of Agrigento and Noto (Italy).
Citrus Groves
One of Palagonia's main features are its vast citrus groves. Located on the southern edge of the Catania plain, these groves are famous throughout Sicily. Many people come here to taste fresh citrus fruits and appreciate the beauty of the landscape. The fruits cultivated in this area are of high quality and many of them are exported worldwide.
Conclusions
Here is a brief summary of Palagonia! Many of its secrets still await you to explore, such as the tradition of carnival, which attracts tourists from all over the world every year. If you are planning a trip to Sicily, do not forget to stop in Palagonia. We are sure you will not regret it!
