The region

After the earthquake of 1693 the small town of Avola was constructed in its present-day hexagonal shape between the sea and the high plateau Altipiano Ibleo, which extends to its south-east. Due to its privileged position Avola has been given the titles port of the Ibleers and south-eastern gate of Sicily.

Particularly when coming from a northern direction, Avola is an important centre of this very attractive region and is preparing itself for ever increasing numbers of visitors in the forthcoming years.
Holiday makers appreciate Avola’s central position (exactly in the middle of Noto and Syracuse) as well as its extraordinary hospitality: it is an ideal holiday spot for lovers of fine cuisine and unspoilt landscapes, for visitors who appreciate the generosity and openness of the inhabitants.

Last but not least, we are in the region of Nero d'Avola, even though this wine is no longer grown in Avola.
The reason for this was the devastating vine pest in the middle of the 19th century which infested the grape Calabrese (the Italian form of the Greek word Calavirsi, derived from kaleu aulisi, while Kaleu stands for grape and aulisi for Avola).
Nevertheless, this futile region offers a vast range of agricultural products: the almonds Mandorla pizzuta which blossom very early in the year, olives of the variety tonda iblea and moresca and carob, which in Arabian means Karat.

This word is in use even today to measure out gold and diamonds.
This is an indication for the former practice of measuring pieces of jewellery with carob seeds.