Torre Archirafi Explained

Torre Archirafi
Coordinates:37.7086°N 15.2175°W
Region:Sicily
Province:Catania
Comune:Riposto
Elevation M:3
Population Total:2,304
Population As Of:2017
Gentilic:turroti
Postal Code:95010
Area Code:095

Torre Archirafi (Sicilian: '''A Turri'''|italic=no) is a frazione of the comune (municipality) of Riposto in the Catania area of southern Italy. The small fishing village is located about 32km (20miles) northeast of Catania and about 3km (02miles) south of Riposto.

History

The name comes from Torre di Archirafi or the Archirafi Tower, a coastal watchtower, built to repel Barbary corsairs in the 16th century and later destroyed by the sea sometime in the 17th century.[1] [2] The town itself was ceded to the Duke of Archirafi, Giovanni Natoli Ruffo, by King Charles III of Bourbon in the 17th century.[3]

Places of interest

The inhabited area has kept the old historic public center fairly intact which includes the Palazzo Vigo (formerly known as Palazzo Natoli or Palazzo dei Principi Natoli) a palace built in the 17th century by Giovanni Natoli Ruffo, Duke of Archirafi.[4] Today, the palace is primarily used for art exhibitions, conferences, and lectures.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Davide Cristaldi (2018). La torre di Archirafi e le difese della contea di Mascali: con illustrazioni e documenti inediti . Acireale: A & B.
  2. Liliane Dufour, Massimo Ganci (1995). La Sicilia disegnata: la carta di Samuel von Schmettau 1720-1721 . Palermo: Società Siciliana per la Storia Patria.
  3. Salvatore Mazzarella, Renato Zanca (1985). Il libro delle torri: le torri costiere di Sicilia nei secoli XVI - XX . Palermo: Sellerio.
  4. Cacciola, Paolo (2015). "Torre Archirafi" . Proloco Riposto. .
  5. Proiti, Giuseppe Stefano (2016) "Dal 31 luglio al 6 agosto Summer Art a Riposto/Torre Archirafi". La Voce dell'Isola. .