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GELA
is a city and port of Sicily in the province
of Caltanissetta; it is located on a low relief
on the coast, hemmed from an extensive shore,
opposite to the Sicily sea, where Gela's river
crosses the plain and goes to flow. Gela is
of greek origin and was founded in 689 B.C.from
the colonies of Rodi and Creta which the river's
name comes from. Fighting against the cities
surrounding it and winning, it extended his
territory and founded Akragas (the old Agrigento)
in 580 B.C.. In the FIFTH century Gela fell
under the oppression of Cleandro, Ippocrate
e Gelone who after conquering Siracusa, he
moved there. In 456, Eschilo, a great greek
poet retired and died in Gela ( the legend
says the cause of his death was a testudo dropped
from an eagle that was flying above him). In
405 B.C. the city was devastated by the cartaginesi
and in 282 B.C. by the mercenary mamertini.
Then, the people moved to Phintias (now Licata),
so that the place remained deserted until the
XIII century. In 1230 King Federico II of Svevia
founded the present city which was called Terranova.
In 1862 the name was changed to Terranova of
Sicily and in 1927 the old name ( GELA )was
re-established. Now Gela preserves, at north-east,
the Capo Soprano's greek fortifications, with
300 m of walls(erected around 339 B.C.). Not
far away you can find the thermae Hellenistics
(from the IV-III century B.C.). At the opposite
extremity of Gela rises the Acropolis, with
the remains of a quarter from the IV century
B.C. and two temples; near, there is the regional
museum of archaeology, much of what has been
found comes from the territory. The historic
center preserves among others: the Main Church
(Chiesa Madre) (XVIII-XIX century) and the
Church of the Carmine (Chiesa del Carmine)
(of the year 1514). Gela is an industrial center.
It houses factories (petrol-chemicals,metal-mechanics
and alimentary) and has notable commercial
activity including a fish-market in the port. |
