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Sicily - Places
to Visit -
Augusta
This small town spreads along an island connected by bridges to
the mainland, in the upper part of the Gulf of Augusta. The name goes
back to the Roman Imperial age, when Augustus founded a new colony
here (first century BC). Up to two centuries earlier, the reek colony
of Megara Hyblaea had existed in this area, but was devastated in
conflicts with the Syracusans and Romans. Augusta itself was razed by
the Saracens and rebuilt by the Swabians (thirteenth century).
Subsequently an Aragonese possession, it suffered badly in more
recent times, during the seventeenth and nineteenth century, from
earthquakes. The locality is also known for an Allied landing there
during the last World War (July 1943). A centre of the oil and
petrochemical industry, it possesses refineries factories and busy
commercial port. The Castle goes back to the Swabian period
(thirteenth century) and has been used as a prison. The Duomo,
originally built in the seventeenth century, had to be rebuilt as a
result of the earthquake of 1693 and was completed in the second half
of the eighteenth century. The Palazzo Comunale is and elegant
seventeenth century building. The Baroque Church of the Anime
Purganti (seventeenth century) is also interesting. The sixteenth
century fortalices of Avalos, Garzia and Victoria can still be seen
at the port.
