Belpasso (Sicilian: Malupassu, Marpassu or Mappassu) is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Catania in the Italian region Sicily, located about 150 kilometres (93 mi) southeast of Palermo and about 10 kilometres (6 mi) northwest of Catania. Belpasso is the second biggest comune of the Catania's area for area (after Catania).

Belpasso
Malpasso
Comune di Belpasso
Chiesa Madre
Chiesa Madre
Location of Belpasso
Map
Belpasso is located in Italy
Belpasso
Belpasso
Location of Belpasso in Italy
Belpasso is located in Sicily
Belpasso
Belpasso
Belpasso (Sicily)
Coordinates: 37°35′N 14°59′E / 37.583°N 14.983°E / 37.583; 14.983
CountryItaly
RegionSicily
Metropolitan cityCatania (CT)
FrazioniPiano Tavola
Government
 • MayorDaniele Giuseppe Maria Motta
Area
 • Total
166.33 km2 (64.22 sq mi)
Elevation
551 m (1,808 ft)
Population
 (30 April 2017)[2]
 • Total
28,128
 • Density170/km2 (440/sq mi)
Demonym"Belpassesi" or "Mappassoti" in Sicilian
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
95032
Dialing code095
Patron saintSt. Lucy
Saint day13 December
WebsiteOfficial website
Belpasso, 1943: Tanks of the County of London Yeomanry, part of the British 4th Armoured Brigade, of the British Eighth Army, with local children on board. The facade of Chiesa Sant'Antonio da Padova is visible behind them.[3][4]

The original town was destroyed by the lava flows from Mount Etna in 1669. Rebuilt in a lower plain, that habitation was known as Fenice Moncada; the latter name derives from the family of the Princes of Paterno who owned the feud. This habitation proved malarial and was heavily damaged by the 1693 Sicily earthquake, causing the spot to be abandoned and named Malpasso, and the present town was founded in 1695 in lands belonging to the Duke of Montalto.[5]

Belpasso is the home to Condorelli, productor of typical Sicilian sweets, exported in all parts of the world, Condorelli is the owner of a bar franchising, mainly located in the Metropolitan City of Catania.

Belpasso borders the following municipalities: Adrano, Biancavilla, Bronte, Camporotondo Etneo, Castiglione di Sicilia, Catania, Lentini, Maletto, Mascalucia, Motta Sant'Anastasia, Nicolosi, Paternò, Ragalna, Ramacca, Randazzo, San Pietro Clarenza, Sant'Alfio, and Zafferana Etnea.

References

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  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
  3. ^ "THE BRITISH ARMY IN SICILY, AUGUST 1943". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Quei bambini sul carro armato – la Repubblica.it". Archivio – la Repubblica.it (in Italian). 11 June 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  5. ^ Dizionario geografico dei comuni della Sicilia e delle frazioni comunali, by Giuseppe di Vita; Editor: F Pravata, Palermo; 1906; page 27.
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