RESEARCH

GRAMMICHELE AND AVOLA AND THE CONCEPT OF NEW SOCIETY

ANNA WEGIERSKA MUTIN

Abstract

In early January of 1693 earthquake destroyed several towns in southeastern part of Sicily’s Noto Valley. Among the devastation were two towns, which were rebuilt, as clean geometrical layouts, according to the Italian Renaissance theories of Ideal City. The town of Grammichele replaced former Occhiola and Avola, Avola Vecchia.

Placing the event of erecting those two new towns in context of the prevailing theories of the renaissance will provide an introduction to the observation of urban fabric of Grammichele and Avola and to the understanding of sociopolitical situation existing in Sicily, instrumental for the creation of such important architectural achievements. The abyss which separated squalor in which Sicilian peasantry lived from the splendor of aristocratic opulence, bred and broadened by feudal and operational conditions, made the towns of Grammichele and Avola possible.

The analysis of Grammichele and Avola and planning decisions taken differentiating both towns from already established principles of Ideal City together with the important planning issues, which emerged during the study, will follow and eventually conclude the paper. Jointly they lead me to pose the hypothetical questions of urban density, deprivation of visual power with its consequences and possible planning of one of those towns as a model community.

Grammichele. Figure Ground. Based on today’s town survey	Avola. Figure Ground. Based on today’s town survey .