Al San Biagio in Acireale
Along the Ionian coast between Taormina and Catania rises Acireale, thermal town rich of baroque, a unique treasure of nature and culture between sea and the Etna volcano. In a strategic place of the old town, easy accessibile from highway, we made the hospitable B&B “Al San Biagio” to make your stay more pleasant in Acireale..
History
The city was built on a plateau on a terrace of lava, called Timpa, that puts almost overhanging the Ionian sea with its 150 meters high. The coast, where there are several villages, is characterized by lava reef. There is also a certain richness of water sources and greenery and the area sorrounding the city is planted especially in citrus. It is said that Acireale and other Aci drew their origin to Xiphonia, a mysterious greek city now complitely disappeared. The poets Virgil and Ovid made up the foundation myth to the love story of Galatea and Acis, killed by jealous Cyclops Polyphemus. In Roman times in the same area came to a town called Akis, that historically partecipated in the Punic Wars. In the Middle Ages the town was consolidated around the castle of Aci and only in the fourteenth century a dozen families moved north, where came to the town of Aquilia (Aci d'Aquila), or Aquilia Nuova, the first stable point of today’s city. The sixteenth century was important for Aquilia Nuova, where he cemented a strong merchant class that brought considerable wealth to the city and settled various guilds and religious orders, leaving an indelible mark even today is often cited as the "city of a hundred bells.".