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Augusta (AGOSTO a fortified city)

or AGOSTO, a fortified city of Sicily, 11 miles N. of Syracuse by rail. It stands on a rocky islet joined by a bridge to a peninsula projecting into the Mediterranean, and is near the site of the Megara Hyblæa of the ancients.

The port is spacious, but of rather difficult access. Salt, oil, wine, cheese, fruit, AUGUSTA honey, grain, and sardines are exported.

Pop. about 16,000. Near it was fought in 1676 a great naval battle between the French under Duquesne, and a Spanish and Dutch fleet under the famous Admiral De Ruyter. The latter was defeated, and received a wound of which he died at Syracuse.