Province of Syracuse

The Province of Syracuse (Italian: provincia di Siracusa; Sicilian: pruvincia di Sarausa) was a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy. Its capital was the city of Syracuse, a town established by Greek colonists arriving from Corinth in the 8th century BC.[1] It had an area of 2,109 square kilometres (814 sq mi) and a total population of 403,985 (2016). Syracuse had 8% of the Sicilian population and 8.2% of Sicily's area.

Provincia di Siracusa
Province of Italy
1865–2015
Flag of Province of Syracuse
Flag
of Province of Syracuse
Coat of arms

Map highlighting the location of the province of Syracuse in Italy
CapitalSyracuse
Area 
• 2005
2,124.13 km2 (820.13 sq mi)
Population 
• 2005
398,178
History
History 
• Established
1865
• Disestablished
4 August 2015
Today part ofFree municipal consortium of Syracuse

Following the suppression of the Sicilian provinces, it was replaced in August 2015 by the Free municipal consortium of Syracuse (Italian: Libero consorzio comunale di Siracusa).[2]

Geography and heritage

The Province of Syracuse lies in the southeastern Sicily, in southwestern Italy. It is bordered to the north and north-west by the Province of Catania to the west by the Province of Ragusa, and to the east and south by the Ionian and Mediterranean seas. It occupies an area of 2,109 square kilometres (814 sq mi). In 2002, ancient centres of Noto, Palazzolo Acreide and six other towns in the Noto Valley, were awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and is a significant attraction due to its historical, architectural, artistic and archaeological interest. The towns are particularly dense with late Baroque architecture, dates to the immense rebuilding of the towns which took place after the 1693 earthquake which devastated Sicily.[3] The capital of Syracuse is an important road and rail hub of Sicily. The Park of Neapolis on the island of Ortygia is connected by three bridges to the mainland.[4] The island contains the Maniace Castle, dated to the Hohenstaufen period and the Doric Temple of Athena, which was renovated by the Normans.[4]

The Hyblaean Mountains are the dominant mountain range in the province, sloping down to a coastline which contains stretches of white sandy beaches, cliffs, bays, and islets.[4] The coast to the south of Syracuse contains numerous protected areas, such as the Area Marina Protetta del Plemmirio, the Riserva Naturale Orientara Cavagrande between Cassibile and Avola, and the Riserva Naturale Orientata faunistica di Vendicar, north of Pachino.[5] Within the province lies Lago di Lentini, the largest lake in Sicily,[6] and reputedly the largest artificial lake in Europe, which supports a marshland habitat with over 150 different species.[7]

Modern Flag, adopted in 2015

Towns
Main article: Comuni of the Province of Syracuse

There are 21 comuni (or municipalities) in the province.[8] The most populated as of 2005 were:

ISTAT Code Comune Population
(2005)
089001 Augusta 33,768
089002 Avola 31,650
089003 Buccheri 2,244
089004 Buscemi 1,181
089005 Canicattini Bagni 7,415
089006 Carlentini 17,210
089007 Cassaro 865
089008 Ferla 2,692
089009 Floridia 21,406
089010 Francofonte 12,684
089011 Lentini 24,441
089012 Melilli 12,555
089013 Noto 23,346
089014 Pachino 21,508
089015 Palazzolo Acreide 9,037
089016 Rosolini 20,927
089017 Syracuse 123,332
089018 Solarino 7,268
089019 Sortino 9,023
089020 Portopalo di Capo Passero 3,617
089021 Priolo Gargallo 12,009
Total 398,178

References
  1. Ring, Trudy; Salkin, Robert M.; Boda, Sharon La (1995). International Dictionary of Historic Places: Southern Europe. Taylor & Francis. p. 674. ISBN 978-1-884964-02-2.
  2. "Città metropolitane-legge 4 agosto 2015 n 15" (PDF) (in Italian).
  3. "Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily)". UNESCO. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  4. "Syracuse". Italia.it. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  5. Google (29 September 2014). "Province of Syracuse" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  6. Colt Hoare, Sir Richard (1819). A classical tour through Italy and Sicily. p. 425.
  7. "Biviere di Lentini" (in Italian). Siracusaturismo.net. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  8. "Statistiche demografiche". Istituto Nazionale di Statistica. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
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