Angelo Italia

Between 1685 and 1692 was in the service of the powerful and cultured Carlo Carafa Branciforte, Prince of Butera, for the realisation of the Chiesa Santa Maria della Neve (Church of St. Mary of the Snow) in Mazzarino.

His major works include: Following the 1693 earthquake, Italia was commissioned by representatives of the Duke of Terranova, feudal lord of Avola, to design the reconstruction plan for the city.

[2] Italia chose a flat area, rich in water and relatively close to the sea, a location opposed by the viceroy, who thought it was difficult to defend, but it was nevertheless adopted.

[2] This combined symmetry and order with open spaces and broad, straight roads to minimise damage in any future earthquake.

The above mentioned Brother Angelo conducted an examination of the location and, having observed with precision all the territory of Avola, found no better location and site that the district of the City of Avola, known as Mutube, in which the new city was moved in the form communicated to Your Excellency, approximately one mile and a half from the sea, in a most beautiful and agreeable, broad plain...