Acate is a small historic town in the province of Ragusa, set in the Dirillo River valley on the edge of the Vittoria plain and the Hyblaean plateau, not far from the sea. Its flat agricultural setting gives it a different profile from many inland Sicilian hill towns, while its historic centre reflects a settlement history tied to river, plain and nearby coast.
The town was formerly known as Biscari, a name documented as a feudal estate from the 13th century and later linked to the County of Modica. In 1580 it passed to the Paternò family of Catania, and Agostino Paternò Castello is associated with moving the settlement further uphill, helping define the present town. After destruction in the 1693 earthquake, the centre was rebuilt; in 1938 Biscari was renamed Acate, from Achates, the Roman name for the Dirillo River.
Today Acate’s identity rests on this layered memory: an old feudal town of the Ragusa area, marked by the Biscari name, the Paternò period, agricultural life and enduring local devotion to San Vincenzo.
Patron Saint:
Saint Blaise (San Biagio) – 2nd Sunday in October
Nearest Airport:
Comiso (Pio La Torre) – (16 km, 00:18)
Neighboring Cities:
Attractions in Acate
Art and Architecture
Chiesa di San Vincenzo: Dating from 1643, this church adjoins the Castello dei Principi di Biscari and houses the remains of San Vincenzo. It is the religious focus of the town’s traditional celebrations in his honour.
Chiesa Madre di San Nicolò: Founded in 1660, Acate’s mother church is one of the principal historic religious buildings in the town centre.
Castles
Castello dei Principi di Biscari: Also known as the Palazzo dei Principi di Biscari, the castle dates from the late 15th century and underwent several alterations, including those commissioned by Prince Vincenzo Paternò. Its central portal is flanked by windowed wings; former prison rooms occupy the south-eastern wing, while the north side retains a blocked older entrance.
Things to Do in Acate
Traditional Events
Festa di San Vincenzo and Palio: Acate’s celebrations in honour of San Vincenzo include a traditional horse-racing palio. The event commemorates the mounted escort that accompanied the martyr’s remains from Scoglitti to the town.
Sagra del Pesce: This fish-focused food festival forms part of Acate’s traditional summer celebrations.