San Pietro Clarenza
Welcome to San Pietro Clarenza: a bit of history
Hello everyone! Today I will tell you about San Pietro Clarenza, an Italian town located in Sicily. The city has 8,268 inhabitants and is located in the metropolitan city of Catania. The town owes its name to the devotion of its inhabitants to San Pietro, as evidenced by the presence of the church of San Pietro Maggiore, destroyed during the eruption of Mount Etna in 1669.
Origins
The first mentions of San Pietro Clarenza date back to the early Middle Ages, when the Arabs arrived in the area. However, the oldest evidence of the town comes from a Latin inscription on the portal of the church of Santa Caterina, dating back to 1316, and another inscription on the bell of the Mother Church dedicated to San Pietro, dated 1606.
Modern History
The town was sold to the Duke of Aci Castello, Giovanni Andrea Massa, in 1648, and then passed to Prince Antonio Rejtano, who died in 1674. In the following decades, San Pietro Clarenza was owned by Rejtano's descendants. In 1744, the title passed to Egidio Petrasanta, and in 1769, the hamlet was sold to Giuseppe Mario Clarenza, a nobleman from Catania who added his own surname and transformed the hamlet into San Pietro Clarenza.
The Clarenza Family
The Clarenza family, however, had no interest in the hamlet and preferred to live in Catania, where they resided in a magnificent palace. Following the eruption of Mount Etna in 1669, which also destroyed the Mother Church of San Pietro Clarenza, the town underwent significant changes. After the eruption, the Clarenzas settled in nearby San Gregorio di Catania, where they built a large residence with interior gardens.
Historical Events
San Pietro Clarenza was also hit by the eruption of Mount Etna in 1669, which destroyed 15 hamlets and part of Catania. The entire Sant'Antonio neighborhood was destroyed, along with the Mother Church, described by Carlo Mancino as "great and beautiful."
Conclusions
In summary, San Pietro Clarenza is a town with a long history, with devotion to San Pietro as its starting point. Over the centuries, the town has undergone numerous changes but has always maintained its spirit and unique identity. If you are interested in Italian history and culture, San Pietro Clarenza is a place you must visit. Thank you for reading my story about the town, and I wish you a wonderful day!
