PALAZZOLO ACREIDE

town, Siracusa provincia, southeastern Sicily, Italy. It lies in the Iblei Mountains, west of Syracuse. The successor to the Syracusan colony of Acrae (founded nearby in 663 BC), which was ravaged by the Muslims in the 9th century, the town was ruled by a succession of families in the Middle Ages, later passing to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and eventually to the Kingdom of Italy. It was largely destroyed by the earthquake of 1693, and most of the buildings date from the 18th century. On the site of Acrae (Akrai) are the remains of a Greek theatre and council house. The templi ferali (temples of the dead), carved in the rock, contain Greek inscriptions and votive niches. The Santoni are 12 life-size rock carvings of deities, including Cybele, the Great Mother of the Gods, dating from the 3rd century BC. Palazzolo Acreide has a hydroelectric power plant, and olives, grain, citrus fruits, and almonds are grown. Pop. (1991 est.) mun., 9,475.