Francavilla di Sicilia
Francavilla di Sicilia is a municipality in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, with 4028 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012).
Location and data
Francavilla di Sicilia is located north of Mount Etna, and about 50 km south of the provincial capital of Messina in the Alcantara Valley. The nearest large towns are the main tourist area of Taormina, about 15 km further east along the coast, and Randazzo, about 15 km to the west in the interior. Here live 4236 inhabitants, who mainly work in agriculture.
The neighboring municipalities are Antillo, Castiglione di Sicilia ( CT), Fondachelli - Fantina, Malvagna, Montalbano Elicona, Motta Camastra, Novara di Sicilia and Tripi.
History
In the area of the village objects were found during excavations that lead back to the 5th century BC. In 1092 the monastery of San Salvatore di Placa was built in the environment, formed the current municipality.
Attractions
- Gole Alcantara: Alcantara Gorges River, which has eaten its way through the centuries into the lava of Mount Etna. The river flows through the city, the most prominent point of the river with the sometimes cavernous gorge is very close to Francavilla, but just outside of town on the territory of the municipality of Motta Camastra.
- Church of the Annunziata in the city center.
- Capuchin convent at the cemetery.
- Ruins of the once above the village perched on a hilltop medieval castle.
- Excavations from the time of the Greeks.
- Natural path to the Gurne Alcantara ( river with small lakes ).
Events
- Last Sunday in August: Feast of the Holy Euplio
- December 4: Feast of the patron saint of the place of Saint Barbara
- Good Friday procession ( every 4 years)
- Nativity plays
- Carnival