Francofonte

Francofonte is a small historic agricultural town in the Province of Syracuse, in southeastern Sicily. Perched on a hillside on the northern foothills of the Hyblaean Mountains, it looks out over the fertile Plain of Catania, with citrus groves and vineyards defining much of the surrounding countryside.

The present town has medieval origins and developed from a fortified nucleus established in the 14th century, around 1360, by Artale Alagona in the fief of Bufilda. Its history later passed through important feudal phases, including strong growth under the Cruyllas family, before the town was badly affected by the earthquake of January 1693 and subsequently reshaped.

Today Francofonte’s character is closely tied to its elevated setting, rural economy and devotional traditions. Known as the “City of citrus”, it stands out as a hillside town where medieval foundations, noble feudal history and an enduring agricultural identity remain closely connected.