|
|
 |
| |
|
Home > Travel Italy > Italy Destinations > Lentini
Lentini
Italy, officially the Italian Republic or Repubblica Italiana, is a Southern European country comprising of the Po River valley, the Italian Peninsula and the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. It is shaped like a boot and for this reason Italians commonly call it lo Stivale, the boot or, due to its prevalent peninsular geographical nature, la Penisola, the Peninsula.
Lentini is a town in the south-east of Sicily, part of the province of Syracuse, Italy. The ancient Leontini was founded by Chalcidians from Naxos in 729 Before Christ. It is virtually the only Greek settlement not located on the Sicilian coast, being some 6 miles inland. The site, originally held by the Sicels, was seized by the Greeks owing to its command of the fertile plain to the north. Leontini was reduced to subject status in 498 Before Christ by Hippocrates of Gela, and in 476 Before Christ Hieron of Syracuse moved the inhabitants from Catana and Naxos to Leontini.
The eastern hill still has the remains of a strongly fortified medieval castle, in which some writers are inclined though wrongly to recognize portions of Greek masonry. Excavations were made in 1899 in one of the ravines in a Sicel necropolis of the third period. Their explorations in the various Greek cemeteries resulted in the discovery of some fine bronzes, notably a fine bronze lebes, now in the Berlin museum.
The main site of this townare, the Baroque Chiesa Madre Santa Maria la Cava e Sant'Alfio was built in 1693 by Vella da Malta. It has a basilica plan with a nave and two aisles, the three-orders facade is from the 18th century. Noteworthy is the central portal with scenes of the martyrdoms of St. Alfio, Filadelphus and Cirinus. As of 31 December, 2004 it had the total population of 24,44 and area of 215.75 square kilometers. It is located 53 meters above sea level.
Presently Lentini experiences a sharp social, economic and population growth derivative of the strategic position of the locality and the high level of well-being and quality of life that is enjoyed with respect to other places of Italy. Today, one can also learn about its history, from its earliest times and pursue enthusiasm in its natural beauty and populace.
Back to Italy Destinations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|