Regalbuto (
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
: Ameselum;
Sicilian: ''Regarbutu'') is a ''
comune
The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...
'' in the
province of Enna,
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Ethnicity
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
, southern
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
.
There is an annual cattle fair held in the month of August.
History
Regalbuto may be the ancient town of
Amaselos, which was named by the Greek and Sicilian historian
Diodorus Siculus
Diodorus Siculus, or Diodorus of Sicily ( grc-gre, Διόδωρος ; 1st century BC), was an ancient Greek historian. He is known for writing the monumental universal history ''Bibliotheca historica'', in forty books, fifteen of which su ...
in his ''Bibliotheca historica'' (Historical Library) writings.
The name Regalbuto derives from the Arab term ''Rahal Abbud'', "Abbud's farmhouse". Discoveries at the site include the old Saracen quarter.
Around 1200, the inhabitants of the nearby town of
Centuripe, who rebelled against the Swabian dynasty whom Regalbuto had been faithful to, destroyed Regalbuto. Years later, King Manfred had the town rebuilt at its present site.
In 1860, a number of members of parliament met in Regalbuto with
Garibaldi
Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi ( , ;In his native Ligurian language, he is known as ''Gioxeppe Gaibado''. In his particular Niçard dialect of Ligurian, he was known as ''Jousé'' or ''Josep''. 4 July 1807 – 2 June 1882) was an Italian general, patr ...
to discuss a truce during the
Campaign of 1860.
The town was never subject to fiscal taxes, and a free magistracy elected by the king and the archbishops of Messina governed it. The town was severely damaged during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, and on August 3, 1943 the Pionier Battalion of
Hermann Göring Panzer Division Hermann or Herrmann may refer to:
* Hermann (name), list of people with this name
* Arminius, chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci tribe in the 1st century, known as Hermann in the German language
* Éditions Hermann, French publisher
* Hermann, M ...
, supported by tanks and self-propelled guns was forced to cede the town, after four days of bitter fighting by the 1st Infantry Brigade of 1st Canadian Infantry Division. The current inhabited center was reconstructed only recently.
Main sights
* ''
Chiesa Madre San Basilio'' (Mother Church of Saint Basil) dedicated to
Saint Basil, which was built on the site of a 16th-century building and preserving a luxurious 10 meter altar dedicated to
Saint Vitus. It has a
Baroque
The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...
façade with a pyramid shaped bell tower.
* ''
Santa Maria della Croce'': 15th-century church with a Baroque staircase
* ''
San Giovanni'':18th-century church with a large bell
loggia
*Town hall (''Palazzo Municipale'', 18th century)
*Remains of the 13th-century castle:
*''Palazzo Citelli-Fascaro'' (17th century)
*''Palazzo Falcone'' (17th century)
*''Palazzo Campagnini'' in
Liberty Style
*''Palazzo Carchiolo''
In the city environs are sites of naturalistic interest like the Pozzillo Lake district, one of Europe's largest man-made lakes, fed by the
Salso River. Mountains include the Monte Mascari (), north of the lake, and, also in the lake vicinity, the Monte Salici ().
Economy
The economy is based on agriculture, including cereals, citrus, and olives. Animal husbandry includes cattle, sheep, and goats.
References
Municipalities of the Province of Enna
13th-century disestablishments in Italy
{{Sicily-geo-stub