Lentini

Quality 0.50 · 1 view · Updated 2 months ago

title: "Lentini" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["municipalities-of-the-province-of-syracuse", "euboean-colonies-of-magna-graecia", "720s-bc", "8th-century-bc-establishments-in-italy", "greek-city-states"] topic_path: "geography/italy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lentini" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox Italian comune"]

FieldValue
nameLentini
official_nameComune di Lentini
native_namescn
image_skyline{{multiple image
borderinfobox
total_width290
image_styleborder:1;
perrow1/2/2/2/1
caption_aligncenter
image1Veduta di Lentini 02.jpg
caption1View
image2Chiesa dedicata a San Francesco all'Immacolata.jpg
caption2San Francesco all'Immacolata
image3Chiesa Santissima Trinità e San Marziano 01.jpg
caption3Santissima Trinità e San Marziano
image4Chiesa dedicata ai 3 Santi (comunemente chiamata della Fontana).jpg
caption4Chiesa della Fontana
image5Carcere dei 3 santi.jpg
caption5Chiesa del Sacro Carcere dei Tre Santi
image6Lentini 1 2021.jpg
caption6Train station
image7Palazzo del comune di Lentini.jpg
caption7Municipio
image8Navata centrale del Duomo di Lentini (SR).jpg
caption8Santa Maria la Cava e Sant'Alfio
image_shieldLentini-Stemma.svg
shield_size150px
coordinates
region
provinceSyracuse (SR)
mayor_partyLista civica
mayorRosario Lo Faro
area_total_km2215.75
population_total21425
population_as_of31 October 2023
population_demonym(sg.), lentinesi ()
(m. sg., ), lintinisa (f. sg.)
elevation_m53
saintSaints Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus
dayMay 10
postal_code96016
area_code095
website
nicknameit ()
::

| name = Lentini | official_name = Comune di Lentini | native_name = scn | image_skyline = {{multiple image |border = infobox |total_width = 290 |image_style = border:1; |perrow = 1/2/2/2/1 |caption_align = center |image1 = Veduta di Lentini 02.jpg |caption1 = View |image2 = Chiesa dedicata a San Francesco all'Immacolata.jpg |caption2 = San Francesco all'Immacolata |image3 = Chiesa Santissima Trinità e San Marziano 01.jpg |caption3 = Santissima Trinità e San Marziano |image4 = Chiesa dedicata ai 3 Santi (comunemente chiamata della Fontana).jpg |caption4 = Chiesa della Fontana |image5 = Carcere dei 3 santi.jpg |caption5 = Chiesa del Sacro Carcere dei Tre Santi |image6 = Lentini 1 2021.jpg |caption6 = Train station |image7 = Palazzo del comune di Lentini.jpg |caption7 = Municipio |image8 = Navata centrale del Duomo di Lentini (SR).jpg |caption8 = Santa Maria la Cava e Sant'Alfio | image_shield = Lentini-Stemma.svg | shield_size = 150px | shield_alt = | image_flag = | flag_size = | flag_alt = | image_map = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | region = | province = Syracuse (SR) | frazioni = | mayor_party = Lista civica | mayor = Rosario Lo Faro | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 215.75 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 21425 | population_as_of = 31 October 2023 | pop_density_footnotes = | population_demonym = (sg.), lentinesi () (m. sg., ), lintinisa (f. sg.) | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 53 | twin1 = | twin1_country = | saint = Saints Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus | day = May 10 | postal_code = 96016 | area_code = 095 | website = | footnotes = | nickname = it () Lentini (; ; ; ) is a town and comune in the Province of Syracuse, southeastern Sicily (Southern Italy), located 35 km (22 miles) north-west of Syracuse.

History

The city was founded by colonists from Naxos as Leontini in 729 BC, which in its beginnings was a Chalcidian colony established five years earlier in Magna Graecia.

It is virtually the only Greek settlement in Sicily that is not located on the coast, founded around 10 km inland. The site, originally held by the Sicels, was seized by the Greeks owing to their command on the fertile plain in the north. who made his ally Aenesidemus its tyrant. In 476 BC, Hieron of Syracuse moved the inhabitants from Catana and Naxos to Leontini.

Later on, the city of Leontini regained its independence. However, as a part of the inhabitants' efforts to retain their independence, they invoked more than once the interventions of Athens. It was mainly the eloquence of Gorgias of Leontini which led to the abortive Athenian expedition of 427 BC.

In 422 BC, the Greek city-state of Syracuse supported the oligarchs against the people and received them as citizens, Leontini itself being forsaken. This led to a renewed, initially diplomatic, Athenian intervention. The exiles of Leontini joined the envoys of Segesta in persuading Athens to undertake the great Sicilian Expedition of 415 BC.

After the failure of the Expedition, Leontini became subject to Syracuse once more. The city's independence was guaranteed by the treaty of 405 BC between Dionysius and the Carthaginians, but it was soon lost again. The city was finally stormed by Marcus Claudius Marcellus in 214 BC.

In Roman times, it seemed to have been of little importance. It was destroyed by the Saracens in 847 AD, and almost completely ruined by the earthquake of 1693.

The ancient city is described by Polybius as lying in a valley between two hills and facing north. On the western side of this valley, a river flowed with a row of houses on its western bank below the hill. At each end was a gate, the northern gate leading to the plain, the southern at the upper end, leading to Syracuse. On each side of the valley was an acropolis lying between precipitous hills with flat tops, over which buildings extended. The eastern hill still has the remains of a strongly fortified medieval castle, in which some writers are inclined (though wrongly) to recognise portions of the Greek masonry.

Excavations were made in 1899 in one of the ravines in a Sicel necropolis of the third period; explorations in the various Greek cemeteries resulted in the discovery of some fine bronzes, notably a lebes.

During World War II, Lentini was occupied by the forces of Benito Mussolini's fascist government, though that government was deeply unpopular in Lentini as it was throughout most of Sicily. By the time the Allied invasion of Sicily occurred through Operation Husky, Lentini was occupied by German troops from the Nazi Germany's army. Nazi Germany's troops occupied the town until the arrival of British troops (specifically the Parachute Regiment) serving under Bernard Montgomery.

Geography

Lentini is a municipality of 215.84 km² located 52 km northwest of the provincial capital, Syracuse. It is situated at an elevation of 53 meters above sea level on the first hill slopes at the southern edge of the Plain of Catania.

It is the ancient Leontinoi, one of the first Greek colonies in Sicily, and has significant archaeological remains. Not far from the town, to the northwest, lies the basin of the Lago di Lentini (better known as Biviere), which was once completely drained and today has been restored at its old site. The sea (Agnone Bagni) is 12 km from the town centre.

The Lentini area's environment is mainly characterised by its numerous citrus groves. It is called the Città delle arance ("City of Oranges") due to its high production of Siciian blood orange. The 15th meridian east, the reference line for Central European Time (UTC+1), passes through the town.

Climate

Lentini's climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers. During the coldest months, the average temperature during the day is around 15 °C, while the warmest months see average daytime temperatures that reach 34 °C. In summer, temperatures reach 40 °C every year and temperatures over 45 °C are not unheard of. Winter also encounters temperatures over 15 °C yearly, with temperatures over 20 °C also occurring, but less frequently. Occasionally, winter lows go down to 0 °C, but rarely go under 0 °C. Summer lows normally do not go under 17 °C but can occasionally go down to 15 °C. While the climate is relatively dry all year round, there is a marked difference between precipitation days in summer, that experiences rain very rarely, and in winter, where rain occurs more frequently.

Economy

Lentini's primary sector is based on the cultivation of cereals, wheat, vegetables, fodder, vineyards, olive groves, citrus groves (orange orchards especially represent the area's main economic activity) a well as cattle, sheep, pig and goat ranching. The secondary economic sector is made up of companies operating in areas such as food, construction, engineering, electronics, plastic goods manufacturing, refined petroleum products, medical and surgical equipment, furniture, wood processing, stone and ore extraction. Notable among craft activities is terracotta workmanship. A strong commercial network supplements the tertiary sector. There are private broadcasting stations and television networks.

The city is also known for the production of the blood orange, specifically the Tarocco, Moro, and Sanguinella cultivars.

Sport

Main article: SS Leonzio 1909

Lentini is home to the SS Leonzio 1909 football team and has its own city stadium.

Attractions

Archaeological sites

  • Castellaccio: Ruins of a medieval fortress located on a hill overlooking the town.

Religious sites

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Lentini_Chiesa_Madre.JPG" caption="Mother church"] ::

Natural sites

  • Lago di Lentini or Biviere: lake that extends not far away from the city, once drained but rebuilt in the 1970s in the old location. The lake is rich in vegetation and fauna.

People

References

Sources

References

  1. (17 April 2023). "Lentini, città delle arance rosse e...".
  2. {{cite EB1911. Ashby. Thomas
  3. "Lentini: La storia".
  4. Abbott, Evelyn. (1982). "A History of Greece: Part 2: from the Ionian Revolt to the Thirty Years' Peace 500–445 B.C., Volume 2". Putnam.
  5. (1965). "Storia di Lentini antica e moderna". Tip. Scolari.
  6. Carter, Kit C.. (1991). "Combat Chronology, 1941–1945". Defense Department, Air Force Department.
  7. Saliger, Mark. (2018). "The First Bridge Too Far: The Battle of Primosole Bridge 1943". Casemate Publishers.
  8. Moss, Brian. (2005). "Mines, Bombs, Bullets and Bridges: A Sapper's Second World War Diary". Pen and Sword Books.
  9. Kingsley M., Oliver. (2002). "The RAF Regiment at War, 1942–1946". Leo Cooper.
  10. Zuehlke, Mark. (2008). "Operation Husky: The Canadian Invasion of Sicily, July 10–August 7, 1943". Douglas & McIntyre.
  11. (7 July 2012). "Il record italiano di caldo: +48.5°c".
  12. "Lentini". [[ENEA (Italy).
  13. "The Best Time to Visit Lentini, Italy for Weather, Safety, & Tourism".
  14. "Lentini (SR)".
  15. Schwaner-Albright, Oliver. (6 November 2005). "Dark Star".
  16. "Lentini: Le chiese".
  17. "Il Lago Biviere di Lentini".
  18. "Il Biviere".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

municipalities-of-the-province-of-syracuseeuboean-colonies-of-magna-graecia720s-bc8th-century-bc-establishments-in-italygreek-city-states