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Augusta
—  Comune  —
Comune di Augusta
Augusta Location of Augusta in Italy
Coordinates: 37°15′N 15°13′E / 37.25°N 15.217°E / 37.25; 15.217Coordinates: 37°15′N 15°13′E / 37.25°N 15.217°E / 37.25; 15.217
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province	Syracuse (SR)
Frazioni	Brucoli
Government
- Mayor	Massimo Carrubba (since 2003-05-27)
Area
- Total	109.33 km2 (42.2 sq mi)
Elevation	15 m (49 ft)
Population (2001)
- Total	33,466
- Density	306.1/km2 (792.8/sq mi)
- Demonym	Augustani
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	96011
Dialing code	0931
Patron saint	San Domenico di Guzmán
Saint day	May 24
Website	Official website

Augusta (Sicilian: Austa, Greek and Latin: Megara Hyblaea, Medieval: Augusta and Agosta) is a town and comune in the province of Syracuse, located on the eastern coast of Sicily (Italy). The city is one of the main harbours in Italy, especially for oil refineries (Exxon Mobil) which are in its vicinity.

Geography

The city is situated in Syracuse and faces the Ionian Sea. The old town is an island, made by cutting an isthmus in the sixteenth century and is connected to the mainland by two bridges. One bridge was built recently (Viaduct Frederick II of Swabia) and the other built when the city was founded and is called the Spanish Gate. Augusta is home to two ports.

History

The town was founded by Emperor Frederick II. A notable site in Augusta is Castello Svevo (Swabian Castle) built by Frederick II. Augusta is also home to a Greek archeological site, Megara Hyblaea. The town suffered a major earthquake in 1693. During World War II, Augusta was invaded on July 13, 1943 by the Eighth Army of the Allied troops led by British General Montgomery.

Monuments

Castle Svevo.

• Church of San Domenico
• Convent of PP. Domenicani
• Church of S. Francesco di Paola
• Church of Cristo Re
• Church of Mother Mary SS. Assunta (Augusta)
• Chiesa delle Anime Sante del Purgatorio (S. Nicolò)
• Chiesa del Carmine
• Church of San Sebastiano
• Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso
• Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
• Church of San Giuseppe
• Church of Maria Santissima del Soccorso
• Church of Sant'Andrea
• Church of Santa Lucia
• Church of Sacro Cuore
• Porta Spagnola
• Castello Svevo
• Hangar dirigibili Augusta
• kursaal Augusteo
• Ricetta di Malta
• Forti Garsia e Vittoria
• Torre Avalos
• Eremo Adonai

Notable people

• Emanuele d'Astorga, composer
• Orso Mario Corbino, physicist
• Epicarmo Corbino, economist
• Giuseppe Di Mare, organist, pianist and composer
• Rosario Fiorello, showman
• Beppe Fiorello, actor
• Alfredo Maria Garsia, Bishop of Caltanissetta
• Marcello Guagliardo Giordani, opera singer (tenor)
• Giovanni Lavaggi, Formula 1 driver
• Roy Paci, musician
• Antonio Scaduto, canoeist
• Riccardo Schicchi, director
• Chiara Strazzulla, writer

Photo gallery

The Spanish Gate	La Chiesa Madre	View of Mt. Etna from the port of Augusta (SR), alongside the airship hangar.	View of Augusta from the port.
The bay of Augusta.	The Exxon-Mobil refinery.	Petrochemical area.

External links

• Selected Augusta Births
• Selected Augusta Marriages
• Selected Augusta Deaths
• Augusta News
• Augusta map and facilities
• Augusta port facilities
• Real estate in Brucoli-Augusta

Sicily · Comuni of the Province of Syracuse Augusta · Avola · Buccheri · Buscemi · Canicattini Bagni · Carlentini · Cassaro · Ferla · Floridia · Francofonte · Lentini · Melilli · Noto · Pachino · Palazzolo Acreide · Portopalo di Capo Passero · Priolo Gargallo · Rosolini · Syracuse · Solarino · Sortino