The History
The palms peninsula A newly built viaduct dedicated to Frederick II connects the island with the old town of Augusta to the mainland. The Swabian Emperor founded the city in what was once known as the palms peninsula because of the thick arecaceae vegetation that covered it. Here he moved the inhabitants of villages destroyed by himself (Centorbi, Nicosia, Traina, Capizzi, etc.) and in 1231, with the diploma of Melfi, the birth of Augusta was made official, whose boundaries were defined in this document: “from Scala Greca to Targia, to Belvedere, to the Monti Cilimiti, to the contrada San Giorgio, to the Mulinello, to the contrada Carrubba, to Roccadia, to the San Leonardo River up to the sea”. The claws of the Swabian Eagle The sea has always represented a wealth for the city, which today, thanks to its strategic position in the Mediterranean, is one of the most important military, industrial and fishing ports of Italy. Even Frederick II sensed it and donated to the town the Swabian Eagle,whose claws extract two gold coins from the sea. Augusta citizens appreciated the gift and made it the symbol of the city. The founder took Augusta in great consideration, calling it “Venerable” for both the beauty of the island and the extraordinary natural harbour.
