Torre Archirafi (Sicilian: A Turri) is a frazione of the comune (municipality) of Riposto in the Catania area of southern Italy. The small fishing village is located about 32 kilometres (20 mi) northeast of Catania and about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of Riposto.

Torre Archirafi
Torre Archirafi is located in Italy
Torre Archirafi
Torre Archirafi
Location of Torre Archirafi in Italy
Coordinates: 37°42′31″N 15°13′03″E / 37.70861°N 15.21750°E / 37.70861; 15.21750
Country Italy
RegionSicily
ProvinceCatania
ComuneRiposto
Elevation
3 m (10 ft)
Population
 (2017)
 • Total2,304
Demonymturroti
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
95010
Dialing code095

History edit

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 edit

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]

References edit

  1. ^ Davide Cristaldi (2018). La torre di Archirafi e le difese della contea di Mascali: con illustrazioni e documenti inediti (in Italian). Acireale: A & B. ISBN 9788877284266
  2. ^ Liliane Dufour, Massimo Ganci (1995). La Sicilia disegnata: la carta di Samuel von Schmettau 1720-1721 (in Italian). Palermo: Società Siciliana per la Storia Patria. ISBN 9788874010660
  3. ^ Salvatore Mazzarella, Renato Zanca (1985). Il libro delle torri: le torri costiere di Sicilia nei secoli XVI - XX (in Italian). Palermo: Sellerio. ISBN 9788838900891
  4. ^ Cacciola, Paolo (2015). "Torre Archirafi" Archived 2017-04-09 at the Wayback Machine. Proloco Riposto. (in Italian).
  5. ^ Proiti, Giuseppe Stefano (2016) "Dal 31 luglio al 6 agosto Summer Art a Riposto/Torre Archirafi". La Voce dell'Isola. (in Italian).