In the Middle Ages , the town expanded around the castle ( now part of Aci Castello ) , known as '' ' Jachium ' '' under the Byzantines , as '' ' Al-Yāj ' '' ( الياج ) under the Arabs , and , later , as '' ' Aquilia ' '' . In 1169 , a huge earthquake scattered the population of the mainland , divided between the numerous boroughs of Aci . Another Aquilia was founded in the late 14th century further north , creating the nucleus of the modern city . The only remains of the medieval Aquilia Nova ( " New Aquilia " ) is the Gothic-Lombard-styled portal of the church of Saint Anthony ( in Italian language called " chiesa di Sant ' Antonino di Padova " )
a huge earthquake
1169 Sicily earthquake
Acireale