Abbazia di Maniace

The Benedictine abbey of Abbazia di Maniace lies 15km/9.5mi west of Randazzo; after 13km/8mi turn right off the SS 120. It was named after the Byzantine General Georgios Maniakes who defeated the Arabs here in 1040; his name also lives on in the Castello Maniace in Syracuse. The abbey is also called a castello; visitors are not allowed inside. In 1799 King Ferdinand III gave the abbey together with the town of Bronte (17.5km/11mi south of Randazzo on the SS 284) to Admiral Nelson in gratitude for his assistance; from then on Nelson was also known as Duke of Bronte.