Ispica

Ispica (Sicilian: Spaccafurnu, Latin: Hyspicae Fundus) is a city and comune in the south of Sicily, Italy. It is 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Ragusa, 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Syracuse, and 90 kilometres (56 mi) away from La Valletta, on the coast of Malta. The first mention in a document of Ispica occurred in 1093, in a list of churches and ecclesiastic departments for administrative purposes, but the territory has been colonized since the Bronze Age.

Ispica
Comune
Comune di Ispica
Location of Ispica
Ispica
Location of Ispica in Italy
Ispica
Ispica (Sicily)
Coordinates: 36°47′N 14°54′E
CountryItaly
RegionSicily
ProvinceRagusa (RG)
FrazioniSanta Maria del Focallo, Marina Marza
Government
 • MayorInnocenzo Leontini
Area
 • Total100 km2 (40 sq mi)
Elevation
170 m (560 ft)
Population
 (31 August 2017)[2]
 • Total16,302
 • Density160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Ispicesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
I-97014
Dialing code+390932
Patron saintSS. Maria vergine del monte Carmelo
WebsiteOfficial website

The city is located on a hill. The main economical activity consists of farming and organic products, especially carrot, zucchini, tomatoes, olives, vineyards. Ispica is the largest producer of organic carrot of southern Italy with about 18,000 tons of annual production. There is 10 kilometres (6 mi) of coastline, most of which is sand and dunes, and an island (Porri island) at 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the coast.

The town also hosts examples of Sicilian Baroque architecture such as the Vincenzo Sinatra's Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the Annunziata Church, the Carmine monastery, and the St. Barthelemy cathedral.

Ispica was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693 and rebuilt on its present site.

The 16th century St. Francis monastery in Ispica precedes the Baroque architectural period.
Vincenzo Sinatra's Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.

Tourist Information

The Pro Loco Spaccaforno manages a tourist information point in the city center. Tourist informations, also in English, are available on the website Visit Ispica.[3]

The Cava d'Ispica (Cave of Ispica) consists of a series of housing units.

Cava d'Ispica

The Cava d'Ispica (Cave of Ispica) consists of a series of housing units carved in rocky formations. Built prior to the Greek colonization, these houses were used until the end of the nineteenth century. This cave, the most important in Eastern Sicily, is 13 kilometres (8 mi) long and is divided among two other comunes, Modica and Rosolini.

People

References
  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. Visit Ispica - things to do and events in Ispica

Sources



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