January 9, 1963, Val di Noto, southern Sicily in the Metropolitan City of Catania: it is 13 pm when the earth begins to shake incessantly, continuing for two days with its destructive shocks.
Much of the valley is devastated, urban centers destroyed, thousands displaced. To shelter the survivors of Occhiolà, now deprived of their homes and their country, the Prince Carlo Maria Carafa Branciforti decides to found a new center, grammichele. Born to welcome displaced people, the town was designed with an artistic spirit, in fact the plan of the center is developed on a hexagonal, creating a fascinating show for the observer, especially starting from sunset, when the streets of the village are transformed into a luminous maze. It is Grammichele, today a center famous all over the world.
The project was carried out by the architect Michele Da Ferla, while Prince Branciforti, an art lover and philanthropist, died just two years after the town was founded.
The hexagonal plan of Grammichele
Grammichele is unique in Italy: no other town develops around a nucleus designed according to the canons of rational architecture.
The heart of the country is the hexagonal square, dedicated to Prince Carlo Maria Carafa: six large streets start from here and head from the center to the outskirts, each arriving in a rectangular square. Each square is the center of a district of Grammichele and therefore all develop around the central hexagonal square.
A truly impressive sight, when in the evening the streets light up, making the town look like a star reflected in the sky.
Grammichele beyond the plant
Grammichele rises on the slopes of the Iblei Mountains, which among its heights includes Monte Lauro. The town is located about 520 meters above sea level and has a population of 12.400. The hexagonal plan of the country, however, is not the only reason why so many tourists arrive visit to Grammichele: in the center there are many sacred buildings, palaces and attractions to discover.
In Piazza Carlo Maria Carafa, are found there Mother Church and Town Hall, in addition to the statue that the grateful country has dedicated to the Prince.
La Church dedicated to Saints Michael and Catherine, was built between 1724 and 1798 and is therefore in Baroque style; inside, you can admire paintings with a sacred theme such as the San Michele Arcangelo or the Dispute of Santa Caterina with the philosophers, as well as the beautiful six-pipe organ. Among the other churches that you can find in Grammichele, we remind you of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Church of Santa Maria of Lourdes , Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Il Palazzo Comunale it is a splendid late XNUMXth century building, built in collaboration with the Royal Higher Technical Institute of Milan (the current Polytechnic) and proved to be particularly resistant to the subsequent earthquakes that occurred in the area.
Grammichele and surroundings: what to see
Moving away from the town center of just a few kilometers, you will also find other attractions to visit: the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Piano it is located just 3,3 km from the center and was one of the few buildings to remain unscathed after the earthquake of 1693. Today it is a pilgrimage destination. The Monumental Cemetery is instead located 12 km from Grammichele, in Caltagirone. Finally, about 17 km from the town, you will find the stables of the Equites Maenarum group, which organizes medieval shows with jousting and horses: with a little luck, you can attend one of their shows.
All the attractions surrounding Grammichele are typical of the Sicilian hinterland, but sea lovers need not fear: with less than an hour's journey, you can reach the splendid Ionian coast of Sicily, where there are splendid beaches such as those of Augusta.
Grammichele at the table
Grammichele is not only art, architecture and nature, but also good food: like every town in Sicily, the village can boast its typical local product and of course the dishes of Sicilian cuisine. The local product par excellence is the sausage, which in September is celebrated with a festival full of events, while among the traditional dishes in Grammichele you will find bucatini with broccoli, prawn and mint salad and risotto alla marinara; of course, from cassata to cannoli, don't forget to taste the local pastry.
How to get to Grammichele
Grammichele, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, can be easily reached by car o on the train.
The closest railway station is that of Ragusa, which is about 33 km from the centre, to which it is connected by buses and shuttles that will take you to Grammichele.
If instead you travel by car, you can arrive from Catania in about an hour's journey, via the SS 417 and the SS 385, while from Palermo it will take you about 3 hours, via the A19 and the E932.
