Grammichele, Italian comune
Grammichele is a commune in the Metropolitan City of Catania in Sicily. The town features an distinctive hexagonal street layout centered around a main plaza, a design that emerged from post-disaster urban reconstruction.
The town was completely rebuilt following a devastating earthquake in 1693 according to new principles of urban planning. This reconstruction followed Baroque ideals and made it an example of rational city design from that era.
The town is best explored on foot, as the geometric street network of the center is compact and easy to navigate. Starting from the main plaza and walking outward along the radiating streets helps you understand the town's unique layout.
The six-pointed street system is a rare realization of Renaissance ideal city concepts that were seldom actually built in practice. This ambitious planning experiment makes the town a valuable example of post-disaster reconstruction in European history.
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