BRONTE, province of Catania, Sicily, on the western slopes of Mt. Etna, 24m. N.N.W. of Catania direct, and 34m. by rail. Pop. (1921), (town) ; 20,014 (commune). The town was founded by Charles V., with an estate originally belonging to the monastery of Maniacium (Maniace), and was granted to Nelson by Ferdinand IV. of Naples in 1799 as a dukedom, which is still held by a member of the Hood family.