not much talk about it and finding information about this particular country is not very easy but in reality it is really special. It is one of the few urban centers, and perhaps even the only one, built according to anti-seismic standards.

Thanks to Prince Charles Maria Carafa, Grammichele exists today. Before 1693 near the current town there was another village, very ancient, whose remains we can find in the Archaeological Museum of Occhiolà, its old name. The ancient town dates back to the sixth century before Christ and there were many vicissitudes that saw its walls. In 1693, therefore, there was a terrifying earthquake, much stronger than the many others already suffered, which reduced the country with the Prince's castle into a pile of rubble.

The House Carafa ruled Occhiolà for a long time and the ruling prince, a very educated man who had his lands and his people at heart, decided not to rebuild the old center but to make a new country, safer in the neighboring plain. After extensive studies in urban planning, he commissioned the architect Frà Michele da Ferla with the final project.

If we look at it from above we see very clearly the hexagonal plan of the town. A large square in the center where we find the mother church and the monument to Prince Carafa, a very beautiful and special solar clock.

The square serves as a shelter and a collection center in case of emergency. Six streets start from the square that divide the city into six neighborhoods, five were destined for the population and one for the prince.

The roads are wide so in the event of an earthquake the roads are not blocked by debris. In addition, the maximum height allowed for the homes were two floors, not more. In this way the prince gave his people a new country, very safe and beautiful.