| Coordinates | 37°31′N 15°0′E |
|---|---|
| Region | Sicily |
| Metropolitan city | Metropolitan City of Catania |
| Frazioni | Belsito, Belvedere, Campanarazzu, Casa Landolina, Cravone, Cubba, Lineri, Madonna degli Ammalati, Montepalma, Piano Tavola, Piano del Lupo, Poggio del Lupo, Serra Inferiore, Serra Superiore |
| Mayor party | since 27 October 2021 |
| Mayor | Giuseppe Marco Corsaro |
| Area total | 37.5 km² |
| Population total | 48,658 |
| Population as of | 30 November 2024 |
| Population demonym | Misterbianchesi |
| Elevation | 210 m |
| Postal code | 95045 |
| Area code | 095 |
| Website | www.comune.misterbianco.ct.it |
Misterbianco (scn: Mustariancu; la-x-medieval: Monasterium Album, lit. 'White Monastery' or 'White Minster') is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Catania in the Italian region of Sicily, located about 6 kilometres (4 mi) west of Catania and about 160 kilometres (99 mi) southeast of Palermo.[1]
Misterbianco borders the following municipalities: Camporotondo Etneo, Catania, Motta Sant'Anastasia, San Pietro Clarenza.
History
The settlement's name derives from a former local monastery (in la-x-medieval: Monasterium Album, lit. 'White Monastery') in the contrada (district) of Campanarazzu (pejorative of Sicilian campanaru, lit. 'bell tower'), where monks, likely Dominicans, wore a white dress. However, both the monastery and the settlement were destroyed by the 1669 Etna eruption. A new borough was therefore built in the former contrada of Milicia.
Until the mid-19th century Misterbianco was a small rural settlement. However, after a large industrial complex was built in the area, its population grew substantially, up to 18,836 in 1971 and 40,785 in 1991. The town continues to grow in size due to people moving here from the increasingly costly quarter of Catania city.
References
- ^ Bottari, C.; Capizzi, P.; Martorana, R.; Civico, R.; Canzoneri, A. (21 March 2023). "GPR investigations at San Nicolò Church: a case-study from the 1669 eruption in the old settlement of Misterbianco (Etna, Sicily)". Exploration Geophysics. 55 (1): 42–50. doi:10.1080/08123985.2023.2190016. hdl:10447/585850. ISSN 0812-3985