Ispica
Ispica (Sicilian: Spaccafurnu, Latin: Hyspicae Fundus) is a city and comune in the south of Sicily, Italy. It is 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Ragusa, 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Syracuse, and 90 kilometres (56 mi) away from La Valletta, on the coast of Malta. The first mention in a document of Ispica occurred in 1093, in a list of churches and ecclesiastic departments for administrative purposes, but the territory has been colonized since the Bronze Age.
Ispica | |
|---|---|
| Comune di Ispica | |
Location of Ispica | |
Ispica Location of Ispica in Italy Ispica Ispica (Sicily) | |
| Coordinates: 36°47′N 14°54′E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Province | Ragusa (RG) |
| Frazioni | Santa Maria del Focallo, Marina Marza |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Innocenzo Leontini |
| Area | |
| • Total | 100 km2 (40 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 170 m (560 ft) |
| Population (31 August 2017) | |
| • Total | 16,302 |
| • Density | 160/km2 (420/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Ispicesi |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | I-97014 |
| Dialing code | +390932 |
| Patron saint | SS. Maria vergine del monte Carmelo |
| Website | Official website |
The city is located on a hill. The main economical activity consists of farming and organic products, especially carrot, zucchini, tomatoes, olives, vineyards. Ispica is the largest producer of organic carrot of southern Italy with about 18,000 tons of annual production. There is 10 kilometres (6 mi) of coastline, most of which is sand and dunes, and an island (Porri island) at 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the coast.
The town also hosts examples of Sicilian Baroque architecture such as the Vincenzo Sinatra's Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the Annunziata Church, the Carmine monastery, and the St. Barthelemy cathedral.
Ispica was destroyed by the 1693 Sicily earthquake and rebuilt on its present site.