Camporotondo Etneo

Culture, Tipical places
- 95040 Camporotondo Etneo
095 7548000

Camporotondo (4,500 inhabitants) is situated in a hilly area at an altitude of 450 m.s.l. Its position, on the eastern Ionian slopes at the foot of Mount Etna, very near the alluvial plain of Catania and the River Simeto makes it a very fertile area.

The first historical information regarding the town, called Camporotondo due to the round form of the site, dates back to the XVI century. At that time it was one of a large number of small, rural villages, scattered over the territory. In 1648 Camporotondo was sold to Giovanni Andra Massa by the Viceroy who needed money for the wars in Spain. In 1654 it passed to Diego Reitano. More important to the new acquirents than the scanty arable land, few houses and small number of inhabitants, was the prestigious title of Marquis.

It was destroyed by lava during the 1669 eruption and once it had been rebuilt it was owned first by the Prince of Paternò and then came under the jurisdiction of the commune of Catania. From 1730 it belonged to Marquis Francesco, the son of Giuseppa Reitano and then to Pietro Napoli son of the Prince of Sperlinga. It remained the property of this noble family until the XIX Century when feudal rights were abolished and Camporotondo became an independent commune.

The characteristic feature of the old town centre is its circular layout. A walk through the town streets allows visitors to admire the interesting Baroque architecture of the Mother Church dedicated to Sant’Antonio Abate and some historical buildings such as Palazzo Signorello and Palazzo Natali.

Excellent wine is produced from the grapes that thrive in vineyards bounded by black lava stone walls. The area
also produces a remarkable olive oil although not in any great quantity. Figs, prickly pears and citrus fruit are cultivated on the more volcanic lands of the zone.

Courtesy of the Regional Province of Catania.