Regalbuto

Regalbuto
Comune
Comune di Regalbuto
Regalbuto

Location of Regalbuto in Italy

Coordinates: 37°38′58.53″N 14°38′22.55″E / 37.6495917°N 14.6395972°E / 37.6495917; 14.6395972Coordinates: 37°38′58.53″N 14°38′22.55″E / 37.6495917°N 14.6395972°E / 37.6495917; 14.6395972
Country Italy
Region Sicily
Province / Metropolitan city Enna (EN)
Government
  Mayor Francesco Bivona
Area
  Total 169 km2 (65 sq mi)
Elevation 520 m (1,710 ft)
Population (1 January 2016)
  Total 7,277[1]
Demonym(s) Regalbutesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 94017
Dialing code 0935
Patron saint Saint Vitus the martyr
Saint day 11 August
Website Official website

Regalbuto (Latin: Ameselum; Sicilian: Regarbutu) is a comune in the province of Enna, Sicily, southern Italy.

There is an annual cattle fair held in the month of August.

History

Regalbuto may very well be the ancient town of Amaselos, which was named by the Greek and Sicilian historian Diodorus Siculus in his Bibliotheca historica (Historical Library) writings.

The name Regalbuto derives from the Arab term Rahal Abbud, "Abbud's farmhouse". Discoveries at the site include the old Saracen quarter.

Around AD 1200, the inhabitants of the nearby town of Centirupe, who rebelled against the Swabian dynasty whom Regalbuto had been faithful to, destroyed Regalbuto. Years later, King Manfred had the town rebuilt at its present site.

In AD 1860, a number of members of parliament met in Regalbuto with Garibaldi to discuss a truce during the Campaign of 1860.

The town was never subject to fiscal taxes, and a free magistracy elected by the king and the archbishops of Messina governed it. The town was severely damaged during World War II, and on August 3, 1943 the German Hermann Göring Panzer Division was driven out of the town by 1st Canadian Infantry Division. The current inhabited center was reconstructed only recently.

Main sights

In the city environs are sites of naturalistic interest like the Pozzillo Lake district, one of Europe's largest man-made lakes, fed by the Salso River. Mountains include the Monte Mascari (863 metres (2,831 ft)), north of the lake, and, also in the lake vicinity, the Monte Salici (1,442 metres (4,731 ft)).

Economy

The economy is based on agriculture, including cereals, agrumes and olives. Animal husbandry includes cattle, sheep and goats.

References

  1. All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/3/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.