CALTAGIRONE

caltagirone, a city and episcopal see of the province of catania, sicily, situated 1999 ft. above sea-level, 36 m. s.w. of catania direct (55 m. by rail). pop. (1881) 25,978; (1901) town 35,116; commune 45,956. it is well built, and is said to be the most civilized provincial town in sicily. extensive sicel cemeteries have been explored to the north of the town (_not. scavi_, 1904, 65), and a greek necropolis of the 6th and 5th centuries b.c. has been found to the south-east (_ibid._ 132). remains of buildings of roman date have also been discovered; but the name of the ancient city which stood here is unknown. the present name is a corruption of the saracen _kalat-al-girche_ (the castle of girche, the chieftain who fortified it).