Encyclopedia of Southern Italy: Ca
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Ca
C
Cabala: An ancient locality in N Sicily, located near Panormus (mod. Palermo), although it’s exact site remains uncertain. It was the location, in c279 BC, of a major defeat of the Carthaginians under Mago, at the hands of Dionysius I, the Greek tyrant of Syracuse.
Cabrera, Bernardo: A Spanish noble (d. 1411) who, during the 15th century, fermented rebellion in Sicily. Under the Aragonese king of Sicily Martin I, Bernardo held the position of Captain of the Army, Viceroy and Constable (Contabile) of the Kingdom. He eventually had a falling out with the royal family.
Caccamo: (anc. Cucumum). (PA): A commune (area: 187.8 km²; alt. 521 m) in the province of Palermo. Located 44 km SE of Palermo, it is situated on a rocky hill on the W slope of the Madonie mountains, between the rivers S. Leonardo and Tonto. Population: 8,636 (1991).
History: The center was founded by the Carthaginians in c400 BC. During the time of the Saracens it was called Karches. It suffered during the wars between the Angevins and Aragonese, but successfully repulsed the Angevin King Robert “the Wise” of Naples in 1302. The area around the town has deposits of jasper, agate, marble, porphyry, and rock-crystal.
Caccavello, Annibale: (fl. 16th century). Sculptor. He is known for his decoration of notable tombs in the churches of Naples. Among his works are the tombs of Marshal Lautrec (d. 1528) in the church of S. Maria Nova, and of Porzia (d. 1559), wife of Bernardino Rota, in the Franciscan convent of Santa Clara.
Cacciatore, Niccolò: (b. Jan. 26, 1770, Casteltermini (AG); d. Jan. 28, 1841, Palermo). Astronomer. (full page)
Cacirus: The ancient name for Cassaro [SR].
cactus: Although not native to Sicily, cacti are found in abundance throughout the island. Prickly pear and aloes are especially common. The cactus plant found in Sicily is not related to more familiar plants of the same name found the Americas. The name derives from the Greek kaktos, which had originally been applied to the plant they found in Sicily and other parts of the Mediterranean. Only in the 18th Century did the botanist Linnaeus mistakenly extend its use to apply to the family of American succulents. The Sicilian plant is also known as the Spanish artichoke.
Cacus: A son of Vulcan and Medusa, he was a fabled bandit who lived in Italy. The approaches to the caves in which he dwelt were said to marked by the scattered bones of his human victims. As Hercules was returning to Greece through Italy with the cattle of Geryon, Cacus stole some of the animals. When Hercules discovered the identity of the thief, he fought Cacus and finally strangled him.
Cacyparis, River: (mod. Cassibili River). A river in ancient E Sicily, located to the south of Syracuse. It falls into the sea to the S of the Longum promontorium.
Cacyrum: (mod. Cassaro [SR]). An ancient town of E Sicily, situated to the N of Gela.
Caecilius of Calacte: (orig. name: Archagathus). (fl. 1st Century BC). Historian, critic, teacher, rhetorician. A native of the Sicilian town of Calacte (or Cale Acte) (from which he derived his nickname Calactinus), he went to Rome where he earned citizenship. He took the name of Caecilius after his patron, a member of the Metelli gens. Caecilius earned a reputation as a reliable historian and scholar during the time of Cicero and Augustus. Although he wrote many books on grammar, rhetoric, and history (including one on the Servile Wars of Sicily), only a few fragments of his work survive today.
Caecilius Jucundus, Lucius: (fl. AD 1st Century). An auctioneer in ancient Pompeii, he was well-known for a pair of herms which he displayed in his atrium. These statues said to be remarkably realistic images of Jucundus himself. Archaeologists have discovered a collection of 127 waxed tablets of his, most of which are receipts recording the proceeds of auction sales which Jucundus had conducted. Nearly all of them date to the period AD 52 to 62.
Caecinum: (mod. Satriano [CZ]). A town of ancient Bruttium, situated near the mouth of the river Caecinus.
Caecinus: a river-god of ancient Bruttium. He was said to have been the father of Euthymos, a boxer, who was victor at the Olympian Games.
Caecinus, River: (mod. Ancinale river). A river in ancient Bruttium. It flowed into the Sinus Scylacius (Scylleticus sinus) near the town of Caecinum, S of Scylletium, between Rhegium and Locri. According to Pausanias (vi.6.4), grasshoppers on the Locrian side of the river sang normally, but those on the Rhegian side were always silent.
Caelia (1): (mod. Ceglie del Campo [BA]). A city of ancient Apulia.
Caelia (2): (mod. Ceglie Messapico [BR]). A city of ancient Apulia.
Caelius Rufus, Marcus: (b. Puteoli, on May 2, 82 BC; d. (full entry)
Caenus promontorium (mod. Capo di Cavello, Coda di Volpe, or Punta del Pezzo [RC]): A promontory of Bruttium, opposite Sicily. It is believed that its name derives from the Greek kainos (= new, new found, undiscovered) and may have been given to the place by the original discoverers of the place.
Caeparius, Marcus: (d. 63 BC). A native of Tarracina. A supporter of Catiline, he planned to instigate a revolt among the slave shepherds of Apulia. When the conspiracy was exposed, however, he attempted to flee from Rome. He was captured soon afterwards and executed.
Caepio, Gnaeus Cornelius: (d. 174 BC). Roman politician and military leader. He served as curule aedile in 207 BC, praetor in 205 BC, and consul in 203 BC. In this last office he fought against Hannibal at Croton. He died during a plague in 174 BC.
Caesar: Originally the surname for one of the families of the ancient Roman Julian gens (or clan). The successors of Julius Caesar later used it as a title to signify their position as Emperors. It was eventually used to signify the heir apparent of a senior Emperor (or Augustus).
Caesar “the Brave” (Ital.: Cesario il Valoroso): (fl. mid-9th Century). Neapolitan Admiral. He served as commander of the fleet of the Duchy of Naples under his father, Sergius I, and his brother, Gregory III. He played important roles as the commander of the Neapolitan squadron during the Christian naval victories over the Saracens at Gaeta (AD 846) and Ostia (AD 849). In May 859, he was co-commander with his brother Gregory, of the Neapolitan troops attacking Capua. Defeated at the Teodemondo bridge over the Volturno, Caesar was taken prisoner and imprisoned for a time at Capua. After returning home, he resumed his command until c870.
Caesar, Gaius Julius: (b. July 12, 100 BC; d. Mar. 15, 44 BC). Roman politician and military leader. Born into an ancient and aristocratic family, he was the son of Gaius Julius Caesar (d. 84 BC) and Aurelia. Through his mother, he was related to the populist politician Gaius Marius, which makes it likely that he had some Samnite ancestry. From an early age he was closely connected with the popular party. He held the consulship in 59 BC. Between 58 and 50 BC, he conquered Gaul, and invaded Britain (unsuccessfully twice). In 60 BC, he joined Pompey the Great and Marcus Licinius Crassus, to create the First Triumvirate. .After the death of Crassus in 53 BC, and that of Pompey in 48 BC, he emerged as the principal Roman political and military leader.
Caesar, Sextus Julius: (fl. late 3rd Century BC). Roman politician. He served as praetor in Sicily in 208 BC.
Caeitani: a designation used for the inhabitants of Gaeta, and for their dialect.
Cafaro (or Caffarelli), Pasquale: (b. Lecce, Feb. 1 or 8, 1708. d. Naples, Oct. 23 or 27, 1787). Composer and pedagogue. Having been educated at the Conservatorio della Pieta, he served as Primo Maestro at the Santa Maria della Pieta dei Turchini. His compositions consisted principally of church music (Stabat Mater, Salve Regina, Christus factus est) as well as some cantatas and oratorios.
Caffarelli (stage name for Gaetano Majorano): (b. Bari, Mar. 8 or Apr. (full entry)
Caffarelli, Pasquale: See Cafaro, Pasquale.
Caggegi: See Caggiano.
Caggiano: (Sometimes Caggegi). A surname found in southern Italy. It derives from Caggiano, a village in the province of Salerno. The names it believed to have originated from the ancient personal name, Cavius.
Caggiano, Emanuele: (b. Benevento, 1837; d. 1905). Sculptor and Painter. He was the tutor of Vincenzo Gemito.
Cagliostro, Count Alessandro di (real name: Giuseppe Balsamo): (b. Palermo, June 2, 1743; d. Urbino, Aug. 26, 1795) – Visit the full biography page.
Caiatia (1): Ancient name for Caiazzo (CE).
Caiatia (or Caieta) (2): A mythological figure mentioned in Vergil’s Aeneid. She was the old nurse of the hero Aeneas, and was among the surviving Trojans who followed that hero into the west after the fall of Troy. She died while the refugees were sailing north up the Tyrrhenian coast of Italy. The promontory where she was buried was named for her, as was the city that later arose on the site.
Caieta (1): (mod Gaeta [LT]). An ancient town in southern Latium on the border with Campania. It sits on an eponymously-named promontory, beside a bay (Sinus Caietanus), with an excellent harbor. According to tradition, the place name comes from Caieta, the nurse of Aeneas, who was said to have died and been buried in the vicinity.
Caieta (2): An alternate name for Caiatia (2).
Caius, St.: Pope. (rDec 17, 283-Apr 22, 296).
Cajetan, Gaetano: (aka Giacomo/Jacopo de Vio, Tommaso de Vio Gaetano). (full entry)
Cajetan of Thiene, St. (real name: Gaetano da Thiene): (b. 1480; d. 1547). Ecclesiastic. In 1506 he became Prothonotary in the Roman Curia and was ordained in 1516. In 1524, he was one of the founders of the Theatine Order, becoming its Superior at Naples in 1533. He was canonized in 1671.
Calabre: A dark colored fur from Calabria, used for the lining of the amyss, a type of cape worn by monks and choirs while in choir reciting the Divine office.
Calabri: An ancient Messapic-speaking people who lived in the area around modern Brindisi [BR]. It is from them that the names Calabria, Calabrian, and Calabrese, derive.
Calabria (Ancient): Visit the Ancient Calabria page.
Calabria (modern):
Location: A region in southern Italy.
Name: See Calabria (Ancient).
Capital: Catanzaro.
Area: 15,080 km² (5,819 mi²).
Number of Provinces: 5 (Catanzaro; Cosenza; Crotone; Reggio (di) Calabria; Vibo Valentia).
Number of Communes (Municipalities): 409.
Population: 1,998,052 (2007)
Population Density: 132.5/km² (2007).
History: The region is prone to severe earthquakes, including those in 1783, 1905, and 1908.
Historical Population: 1,375,760 (1901); 1,668,954 (1931); 2,061,182 (1981); 2,070,203 (1991); 2,011,466 (2001); 2,004,415 (2006e).
Landscape: The north is dominanted by the Calabrian Apennines (Monte Pollino: 7,325 ft). To the south is the Sibari Plain and the granite La Sila (Botte Donato: 6,330 feet), and, in the far south is the Aspromonte (6,420 feet).
Calabria: , Communes of : Province of Catanzaro Albi, Amaroni, Amato, Andali, Argusto, Badolato, Belcastro, Borgia, Botricello, Caraffa di Catanzaro, Cardinale, Carlopoli, Catanzaro, Cenadi, Centrache, Cerva, C… (full entry)
Calabria, Ecclesiastical Religion of:
Area: 15,629 km²/ mi²
Total Population: 2,098,476.
Total Priests: 1,410 (Diocesan: 1,059; Religious: 351)
Permanent Deacons: 154
Parishes: 975
Calabria Citeriore: A former province of southern Italy. It was the northernmost of the three former Calabrian provinces (the others being Calabria Ulteriore I and II). It is the equivalent in area of the modern province of Cosenza. In 1825, it had a population of 382,919.
Calabria Ulteriore I: A former province of southern Italy. It corresponds in area to the modern province of Reggio di Calabria. During the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, it was divided into 3 districts: Reggio, Gerace and Palmi. In 1825 it had a population of 246,669.
Calabria Ulteriore II: A former province of southern Italy. It corresponds in area to the modern provinces of Catanzaro, Vibo Valentia, and Crotone. Under the kingdom of the Two Sicilies it was subdivided into the districts of Monteleone (mod. Vibo Valentia), Catanzaro, Nicastro (modern Lamezia Terme) and Cotrone (modern Crotone). In 1825, it had a population of 284,027.
Calacta (Calacte; Cale Acte): An ancient city on the northern coast of Sicily, situated near present day Caronia [ME]. It was founded by Ducetius, the Sikel leader in c447 BC.
Calais: A mythological character. He was the son of Boreas, the North Wind, and Orethyia, an Athenian princess. He was the twin brother of Zetes, and together they were referred to as the Boreads (Boreadae). The brothers were said to be winged and numbered among the Argonauts. According Silius Italicus (viii.512), Calais founded the city of Cales in Campania.
Calascibetta (EN): A commune in the province of Enna, Sicily. Population: 4,701 (2006e). Used as a residence by Aragonese kings of Sicily during the 14th century, it was the site of King Peter II’s death in 1342.
Calatafimi (TP): A commune in the province of Trapani. It was known in ancient times as Longaricus. The Saracens renamed the place Calatio, from which the modern name is derived. Calatafimi is probably best known as the site of a hard-fought victory by Garibaldi over the Bourbon army under General Landi on May 15, 1860.
Calatia: (mod. Caiazzo [CE]). An ancient Samnite town situated on the Via Appia, between Capua and Beneventum. It fell to the Romans in 313 BC. Julius Caesar placed a veteran colony there.
Calatinus, Aulus Atilius: (fl. mid-3rd Century BC). Roman politician and military leader. As consul in 258 BC, he successfully campaigned against the Carthaginians in Sicily. During his second consulship (254 BC), he captured Panormus (Palermo). In 249, having been chosen dictator, he returned to campaign in Sicily, becoming the first Roman holding that title to command an army outside of Sicily.
Calavius: An illustrious family from Capua. Its best-known member was Pacuvius Calavius, who convinced the people of Capua to revolt against the Romans after the battle of Cannae (216 BC).
caldarium: the room in an ancient Roman bath which contained the “hot plunge bath.”
Calefati, Marc Antonio: (fl.c1594-1599). Navigator. A Knight of Saint Stephen, he invaded Greek island of Chios in 1599 for plunder and slaves.
Calepodius: (fl. mid 4th Century AD). Ecclesiastic. A bishop of Naples and papal legate at the council of Sardica (AD 343).
Cales (1): (mod. Calvi [BN]). The chief town of the Ausonian Caleni. Located in Campania, on the Via Latina, it was captured and colonized by the Romans in 355 BC. According to legend, the town was founded by Calais, son of Boreas (the god of the North Wind). The town was best-known for its fine wine. Some poets referred to the town as Threicia. The wine of ancient Cales (vinum Calenum) was praised by Horace.
Cales (2) (or Calenum): (mod. Calvi Risorta [CE]). A town of the ancient Aurunci in Campania. Most ancient sources (including Livy, Ptolemy, Strabo, and the Peutinger table) call the town Cales, while Pliny and Silius Italicus refer to it as Calenum.
Caligula (“Little Boots”), Gaius: Roman Emperor (rAD 37-41). (full entry)
Callias: (fl. 4th / 3rd Centuries BC). Historian. A native of Syracuse, he was a contemporary of Agathocles. His 22-book history of Sicily, which includes the reign of Agathocles, survives in only a few fragments.
Callicrates (or Callippus): (fl. mid-4th Century BC). The assassin of Dion (d. 353 BC). Plutarch and Diodorus Siculus call him Callippus. A native of Athens, he had accompanied Dion back to Syracuse when the latter ousted Dionysius II from power. After murdering Dion he seized power in Syracuse for himself. After 13 months, he was forced to flee from the city and wandered through Sicily for a time afterwards as a mercenary leader. He was finally killed by his own men.
Callifae: A town of ancient Samnium. It has been identified with Calvisi, a frazione of Gioia Sannitica (CE).
Callipolis (1): (mod. Gallipoli [LE]). A Greek town of ancient Calabria on the Gulf of Taranto.
Callipolis (2): An ancient town located on the east coast of Sicily near Aetna.
Callippus: See Callicrates.
Callistratus: (d. 413 BC). Athenian military leader. The son of Empedus, he was a cavalry commander in the Athenian expedition against Syracuse. He died valiantly attempting to lead a counter-attack on a Syracusan force which was plundering the Athenian camp.
Callistus (Callixtus) I, St.: Pope (r cAD 217-222/223 ).
Callistus (Callixtus) II: Pope. (r Feb 2, 1119-Dec 13, 1124).
Callistus III: Pope. (rApr 8, 1455-Aug 6, 1458).
Callixtus I: See St. Callistus I.
Callixtus II: See St. Callistus II.
Calixtus III: See Callistus III.
calogeri: A Greek term meaning “hermits.” The Calogeri were also an order of monks of the Greek Mt. Athos. Members of this Byzantine order came to Sicily and Italy during Norman times bringing with them their talent for creating beautiful mosaics. It is believed that Calogeri monks were the aristists who created the famous mosaic works at the Sicilian cathedral at Cefalu.
Calor, River (1): Ancient name for the river Calore. A river of Samnium. Flowing past Beneventum, it emptied into the Vulturnus (mod. Volturno).
Calor, River (2): Ancient name for the river Calore Lucano. A river of Lucania, it emptied into the Silarus (mod. Sele).
Calpurnius, Lucius: (fl. 1st century AD). A Roman who constructed and decorated a temple, at his own expense, dedicated to Augustus at Puteoli.
Caltabellotta (AG): A commune in the province of Agrigento. Founded by the Saracens, its name means “Place of Oaks.” It is situated near the ruins of ancient Triocala.
Caltagirone (CT): A commune in the province of Catania located on two hills. Population: 39,314 (2006e); 37,373 (2001). It became famous as Sicily’s greatest producer of quality pottery, specializing in an excellent majorica ware. Despite its Arabic name, the city had already been in existence for some time when it was captured by the Saracens in 831. It fell to the Normans in 1060. The traveler Douglas Sladen, writing in 1907, called Caltagirone “the most civilised inland town in Sicily.”
Caltanissetta, Province of: A province in Sicily. Area: . Population: 278,275 (2006e). The province has mineral springs and sulfur deposits.
Caltanissetta: (anc. Nissa) (CL): A commune and provincial capital of the province of Caltanissetta. Population: 60,519 (2006e). In 1907, the traveler Douglas Sladen called Caltanissetta “the least civilised of the great inland towns. Its population is proverbial for its brutality.” Under the Saracens it came to be called Kalat-Nissa. In 1060, it fell to Roger I, who gave it to his son Giordano.
Caltavuturo (Sic. Cattavuturu)(PA): A commune in the province of Palermo. It was known as Kalat-butur in Saracen times. Its area is abundant in green and yellow jaspers.
Calvi (anc. Cales)(BN): A commune in the province of Benevento. Population: 2,424 (2007e); 2,400 (2006e). The town contains the remains of an ancient theater and temple.
Camarina (Kamarina): a mythological Oceanid nymph, a daughter of Oceanus. She lends her name to the ancient Greek city of Camarina, in eastern Sicily, and is thought to have originally been a local deity who watched over the local spring or fountain.
Camarina (Kamarina): An ancient city situated on the southern coast of Sicily, beside the mouth of the river Hipparis. (full entry)
Cambiano, Brother Ascanio: (fl. c1602-1604). Navigator. He served as Captain General of the Galleys of the Knights of Malta.
Camenae (or Kamenae): Ancient Italic goddesses of who originally ruled over springs and wells. Their principal shrine was at Rome where the Vestal Virgins daily drew water from their well. They eventually came to be compared with the Greek Muses.
Camicus: An ancient town of the Sikans, situated on the south coast of Sicily, on a river of the same name. The Greeks captured the place and founded the city of Akragas (mod. Agrigentum) on or near its site. Camicus was the legendary capital of the Sikan king Cocalus, and it was here that the hero Daedalus found sanctuary during flight from Minos. Daedalus entered Cocalus’s service and, among other projects, strengthened Camicus’s defenses. When Minos finally arrived on the scene, he found the place unassailable. It was during his negotiations here that Minos was ambushed and assassinated. While Camicus figures largely in the foundation of Akragas, its exact site remains uncertain. Some claim that it was situated on a nearby hill which bears the same name. Others choose to identify it with the towns of Caltabelotta, Cammarata, or Sicultana.
Camilliani, Camillo: (fl. 1574-1603). Sculptor. The son of Francesco Camilliani, he was active in Messina.
Camilliani, Francesco: (b. Florence; d. 1586). Sculptor. In 1574 he created the Fontana Pretoria in Palermo. He was the father of Camillo Camilliani.
Cammarano, Salvatore: (b. Mar. 19, 1801, Naples; d. July 17, 1852, Naples). Librettist, painter, poet, and dramatist.
Cammarata (AG): A commune in the province of Agrigento. Population: 6,374 (2007e); 6,391 (2006e). Its name appears to be Greek in origin although some sources claim that it was a Saracen foundation. It was known for its local sulfur spring and the semi-precious stones (jaspar, agate, etc) found there.
Camorra: a secret criminal association in southern Italy, especially concentrated in Naples and Campania. Of controversial origin, it first came to light in 1830, though it may have grown out of Spanish prison networks and imported to Naples at uncertain date. Its activities spread by intimidation, blackmail, and bribery until Naples was controlled by it. The Camorra appears to have been used by the Bourbon rulers of Naples as a quasi-police network to crush opposition. Efforts to break the power of the Camorra, begun in the 1880s, culminated in the 1911 murder trial at which numerous members were convicted. The Camorra was suppressed and supplanted after Benito Mussolini’s takeover in 1922.
Camorrista (pl. camorristi): a member of the criminal association known as the camorra.
Campania, Ancient: A district of southern Italy, roughly corresponding to the modern region of Campania. It measured roughly 1,700 sq. miles, including its islands. The name derives from a Latin word campus (= “plain”). Ancient Campania, in its broadest terms, was bounded on the northwest by Latium (divided by the River Liris), on the north and east by Samnium, on the southeast by Lucania, and on the south and southwest by the Tyrrhenian Sea. Prior to the time of Augustus, it extended only as far south as the promontory of Minerva. The Augustan redrawing of Italy’s provinces advanced Campania’s boundary to the river Silarus. In a narrower sense, the original Ager Campanus, was confined to the area around the city of Capua.
Campania, Modern:
Location: A region in southern Italy.
Name: See Campania, Ancient.
Capital: Naples (Napoli).
Area: 13,595 km² (mi²) ().
Number of Provinces: 5 (Avellino; Benevento; Caserta; Naples/Napoli; Salerno).
Number of Communes (Municipalities): 551.
Population: 5,790,187 (2007).
Population Density: 425.9/km² (2007)>
Historical Population: 3,142,378 (1901); 5,463,134 (1981); 5,630,280 (1991); 2,701,931 (2001); 5,790,929 (2006e).
Campania, Communes of: Province of Avellino : Aiello del Sabato, Altavilla Irpina, Andretta, Aquilonia, Ariano Irpino, Atripalda, Avella, Avellino, Bagnoli Irpino, Baiano, Bisaccia, Bonito, Cairano, Calabritto, Calitri, Can… (full entry)
Campania, Ecclesiastical Region of>:
Area: 13,879 km²/ mi²
Total Population: 5,911,843
Catholic Population:
Total Priests: 3,568 (Diocesan: 2,261; Religious: 1,307)
Parishes: 1,821
Campanile: a bell tower. It might be attached to a church or a free-standing structure.
Campi Diomedei (or Diomedis): A district of ancient Apulia. Its name derives from that of Diomedes, the Greek hero of the Trojan War, who is strongly connected with Apulia through many myths.
campiero: (pl. campieri). Literally “country guard.” During the 18th and 19th centuries, the campieri were a type of rural police force in Sicily. Many of them were actually private guards hired by landowners to guard their estates. Other campieri were an official corps of government police, also known as cantonieri, who were commissioned to patrol the rural country roads.
campion: a small dwarf pink-colored flower found in Sicily.
Campi Phlegraei: Ancient name for the Campi Flegrei. The name means “fields of fire.” This volcanic region extended from Cumae to Puteoli, encompassing Vesuvius itself.
Campobasso, Province of: A province of Molise.
Campobasso (CB): A city and provincial capital of the province of Campobasso. Regional capital of the region of Molise. Population: 51,337 (2006e).
Campobello di Mazara (TP): A town in western Sicily. It was founded by the Saracens as a castle called Beribaida.
campo santo: Literally “Holy Ground” or “Sacred Field”, it is used as a term for a cemetery in Sicily or southern Italy. (full entry)
candytuft: A flower with white, clover-shaped blossoms, called by the Sicilians Fiore di micle.
Cangemi, Gianluca: (b. 3 December 1979, Palermo). Composer. He received his musical education as a composer under the guidance of Eliodoro Sollima (1926-2000). His works are commissioned and performed both in Europe and in U.S.A. He is the editor of new music collections of Mnemes Publishing. His compositions include a very wide range of styles.
Canicatti’ (Canicattini; Bagni-Canicattini) (AG): A commune in the province of Agrigento; in E Sicily near Syracuse, in the vicinity of the gorge of Spampinato, through which the river Anapo flows. Population: 33,769 (2007e); 33,604 (2006e). It was the site of the final defeat of the Athenian expedition against Syracuse in 413 BC. Sulfur deposits are located nearby.
Canidia (Gratidia): (fl. 1st Century AD). Pseudonym for a woman named Gratidia who lived in Naples during the time of Horace. She was apparently hated by that poet who referred to her as an old sorceress in some of his works (Epod. 5,17; Sat. i.8).
canna: a unit of length measure formerly used in the kingdom of Naples. It was the equivalent of 6.908 English feet.
Cannae: An ancient village, Apulia, SE Italy, scene in 216 B.C. of Hannibal’s crushing defeat of the Romans. It was situated to the NE of Canusium, within a plain laying to the E of the river Aufidus and N of the river Vergellus. During the famous battle, Hannibal’s troops assumed a crescent-shaped formation to meet the Roman troops, which were especially concentrated in the center. As the Romans advanced, Hannibal by brilliant strategy managed to encircle the entire Roman force and cut it to pieces.
cannibalism: Although not normally connected with Italy or Sicily, there is a possibility that such a practice may have occurred in Italy and Sicily in past ages. (full entry)
Cannizzaro, Stanislao: (b. 1826, Palermo; d. 1910). Chemist.
cannoli (“pipes”): crisp fried pastry tubes, filled with sweetened ricotta or pastry cream. Sicilian cannoli is traditionally filled with sheep milk ricotta, flavored with orange flower water, cinnamon, candied fruit, pistachios and bits of chocolate.
cantastorie: itinerant musicians found mostly in Sicily.
canterbury bells: A wild flower found in Sicily.
Canusium: (mod. Canosa di Puglia (BA)). A city of ancient Apulia. It was situated on the river Aufidus. According to tradition, the town was founded by the mythological Greek hero Diomedes, who gave his name to the district around the town (Campus Diomedis). Historically, Canusium was colonized by the Greeks although evidence shows that the population was a mixture of Greek and Oscan speakers. Canusium rose to become the principal town in the area, flourishing until the depredations of Hannibal during the 2nd Punic War. Following their disastrous defeat at Cannae in 216 BC, the surviving remnants of the Roman army took refuge at Canusium. In ancient times Canusium had a reputation for the high quality of the mules bred there and the woolen textiles its weavers produced.
Canzone Napoletana: a variety of popular song traditionally found in and around Naples.
canzune (1): Sicilian lyric songs.
canzune (2): Neapolitan song.
capello di Venere: A type of maidenhair fern which grows wild throughout Sicily.
caper-plant: A common cultivated flower of Sicily. It is noted for its beautiful white and purple blossoms.
capital (Ital. capitello): The top part of a column. In ancient times, it had been traditional to use Doric style in the temples, and later, in the churches of Sicily. There are a few examples of Ionic and Corinthian, notably at Syracuse. Under the Normans, columns of churches and palaces became richly carved in the Byzantine-Saracenic styling. In the early Renaissance, further inovations were introducted including double-arched capitals for columns.
Capitanata: A former province of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (Naples). (full entry)
Capitano: an official in charge of the police force in Sicily during the period of Spanish control.
Capito: A Sicilian bishop who attended the council of Nicaea (AD 325).
Capizzi (anc. Capytium, Capitium)(ME): A commune (area: 70.1 km²; alt. 1,139 m) in the province of Messina. Population: 3,448 (2006e); 3,797 (1991). Located 167 km SW of Messina, it is situated on a spur on the S slope of the Monti Nebrodi, near the source of the river Salso.
capo (pl. capi): literally “head.” The boss of a mafia family.
Capo Colonne: A headland of Calabria (Lat: 39º 7’ N. Long: 17º 15’ E).
Capo Corvo: A promontory of Sicily. In 1613, it was the site of a great defeat of the Ottoman Turk fleet at the hands of the Admiral Ottavio d’Aragon of Palermo.
Capo d’Orlando: A promontory of Sicily. It was the site of the ancient Sikel town of Agathyrnum.
Capo d’Orlando: (ME): A commune (area: 14.6 km²; alt. (full entry)
capo dei capi (or capo di tutti capi): boss of bosses. A mafia term usually given by the press to signify the boss of the strongest of the five New York families. It is normally not used within the mafia organization itself.
Capo di Faro (sometimes Galofaro) (anc. Charybdis): The NE promontory of the island of Sicily, situated on the W shore of the Straits of Messina. In ancient times it was the site for the monstrous Charybdis whirlpool.
Capo di Sorrento (NA): A frazione in the commune of Sorrento (NA).
Capo Schisò: A promontory on the eastern shore of Sicily formed by a prehistoric lava-flow. Naxos, the earliest Greek colony on Sicily, was founded on its headland in c734 BC. The cape was the first landfall for most ships arriving from the Italian mainland.
capodecina (pl. capidecina): a head or “captain” of ten in the mafia organization.
Capodichino (NA): A district (alt. 99 m) of the city of Naples.
Capodimónte (NA): A district in the N part of the city of Naples, located on the E side of the Campi Flegrei. A royal palace and park was established here by Hing Charles III. The district was also the location for the Astronomical Observatory of Naples (alt. 155 m), founded in 1812 by King Joachim Murat, and completed during the reign of Ferrdinand I.
capomandamento: a mafia term signifying a head or captain of a mandamento (or district).
Caporciano (AQ): A commune (area: 18.3 km²; alt. 825 m) in the province of L‘Aquila. Located 30 km SE of L’Aquila, it is situated at the S edge of a high plain, between the SW slopes of the Gran Sasso d’Italia and the chain which flanks the valley of the river Aterno. Population: 265 (2006e); 324 (1991).
Caposele (AV): A commune (area: 40.5 km²; alt. 415 m) in the province of Avellino. Located 58 km ENE of Avellino, it is situated on the NE slope of the Monti Cervialto, near the sources of the river Sele, from which it derives its name. Population: 3,718 (2007e); 3,719 (2006e); 4,026 (1991). The local economy is based on cereal crops and vineyards. The nearby hill of Materdomini is the site of several summer homes.
History: The village was rebuilt after having been destroyed by an earthquake in 1694.
Pounts of Interest: The principal religious monument is the Sanctuary of Materdomini (or S. Gerardo Maiella). Located on a hill of the same name, it is a place of pilgrimage.
Near the center is located the first stretch of the Apulian Aqueduct system.
Capo Spartivento: the southernmost point of Italy (Lat: 37º56’ N. Long: 16º 3’ E).
cappa: A generic Italian term for “cloak.” The traditional cappa used in Sicily, known as a cappotto, was a hooded dark blue style.
Cappadocia (AQ): A commune (area: 67.4 km²; alt. 1,000 m) in the province of L‘Aquila. Located 62 km SSW of L’Aquila, it is situated in the upper valley of the Liri, on a spur to the right of that river’s sources. Population: 519 (2006e); 660 (1991). The local economy is based on timber, charcoal, and saw-milling.
Points of Interest: In the valley below the center are the springs of Sorgenti del Liri.
cappella ardente: A traditional burial practice of Sicily and southern Italy in which a coffin in laid out surrounded by tall burning tapers. The name comes from the fact that it sometimes occurred in a chapel. More often, it took place in front of the altar.
Cappella Reale: The “Royal Chapel” of Palermo. It was described as Sladen in the early 20th century as “the most beautiful ecclesiastical building in Europe.”
Cappelle sul Tavo (PE): A commune (area: 5.5 km²; alt. 155 m) in the province of Pescara. Located 12 km W of Pescara, it is situated on a hill to the right of the river Tavo, near its confluence with the river Fino. Population: 2,985 (1991).
cappotto: See cappa.
Cappuccini monasteries: These facilities have been very popular for visitors to Sicily for centuries. The attraction is the collections of mummies for here. The largest such collection is that found in Palermo. This consists of hundreds of well-preserved mummies, exhibited in well-lighted, ventilated vaults. These collections originated in the practice of burying a properly mummified body in soil specially brought from Palestine and thus considered holy. This was meant to ensure the salvation of the soul. When space ran out, the older mummies were dug up to make room for newer ones. The disinterred bodies were then properly arranged in one of the vaults.
Capra, Frank: (b. 1897, Palermo; d. 1991). Sicilian-American firm director. He won Academy Awards for Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), and You Can’t take it with You (1938). Other notable films include It Happened One Night (1934), Lost Horizon (1937), and It’s A Wonderful Life (1946).
Capracòtta: (IS): A commune (area: 42.4 km²; alt. (full entry)
Caprara, Isola (or Capperara, Capraia) (FG): The northernmost island of the Tremiti chain, in the Adriatic Sea. It measures about 1 km² in area, and rises to a maximum elevation of 56 m. A lighthouse is located on the island’s N shore. Most of the island’s shore consists of high cliffs, broken only by two sandy coves.
Caprara derives its name from the wild capers (capperaia) which grow there.
History: In 1567, the Turkish fleet anchored in the island’s largest bay after their unsuccessful siege of the neighboring island of San Nicola.
Points of Interest: The most interesting features of the island are the archetielli (little arches), small, natural rock bridges. The most famous are the L’Architiello and the Grottone.
The only man-made structures of note on the island are the lighthouse and an abandoned building called the Casa dei Coatti.
Caprarica di Lecce (LE): A commune (area: 10.8 km²; alt. 60 m) in the province of Lecce. Located 12 km SE of Lecce, it is situated in the central part of the Salentine peninsula, on the E slope of the Serra di Galugnano. Population: 2,673 (2006e); 2,968 (1991).
Capreae: (mod. Capri). A small island off the coast of Campania, situated at the southern entrance to the gulf of Puteoli, near the Promontory of Minerva. (full entry)
Capretto: Baby goat. One of the most popular dishes in the regions of Abruzzo and Molise, it is barbecued on a spit or baked in an oven.
Capri (anc. Capreae): A small island (area: 10.4 km². length: 6 km. width: 0.8 to 2.8 km) located off the coast of Campania, about 32 km S of Naples. Population: 12,416 (1991). It is one of Italy’s favorite locations thanks to its incredibly beautiful scenery, mild climate, and remarkable caves.
Points of Interest: The foundations of some buildings incorporate traces of 3,000 year old masonry.
The principal church of the center was rebuilt during the 17th century.
The Carthusian monastery of S. Giacomo was founded in the 14th century. It includes a small cloister of 15th century date, and a larger one from the 16th century. Within the monastery is a museum which houses four Roman statues found in Capri’s famous “Blue Grotto.”
Capua: , Ancient : An ancient city in northern Campania. (full entry)
Capua, Archdiocese of:
Metropolitan: Napoli.
Conference Region: Campania.
Area: 500 km²/ mi²
Total Population: 162,800
Total Priests: 81(Diocesan: 68; Religious: 13)
Permanent Deacons: 3
Parishes: 59
Capuana, Luigi: Sicilian critic, poet and dramatist. He was born at Mineo on May 29, 1839.
Capys (1): In mythology, one of the Trojan followers of Aeneas in Italy. It is said that his name inspired that of the city of Capua in Campania.
Capys (2): (fl. 2nd half of the 5th Century BC). According to one tradition, he was the chief of the Samnites who conquered the Etruscan city of Vulturnum in 420 BC. The victors changed the name of the city to Capua in his honor. Livy, who preserved this story in his “History of Rome”, considered it unreliable.
Capytium (Capitium): (mod. Capizzi [ME]). Ancient town of Sicily. Situated near Mount Aetna, it was called Capitina Civitas by Cicero.
Caracciolo: A noble family of Naples, possibly of Byzantine origins. Its members belonged to several braches, the most illustrious being that of Avellino. Members of this branch came to hold the titles of Counts of Gallerate (1539), Counts of Torella (1560, Dukes of Atripalda (1572), and Dukes of Avellino (1589). In 1609, they also came to hold the hereditary title of Grand Seneschals of Naples. The Melfi branch of the family, which also rose to importance, included such distinguished members as general Giovanni Caracciolo (1480-1539), who defended the last Republic of Florence, and later served as Governor of Marsailles and Piedmont for the French king Francis I.
Caracciolo, Filippo Giudice: (b. March 27, 1785, in Naples; d. Jan. 29, 1844, in Naples). Ecclesiastic. Ordained a priest in 1809, he was chosen a cardinal in 1833. He served as bishop of Molfetta (1820-1833) and archbishop of Naples (1833-1844).
Caracciolo, Giambattista: (b. c1580, Naples; d. 1641). Painter.
carabinieri: The highest level of police in Italy.
Carafa, Brother Francesco: (c1625-1627). Navigator. He served as the Captain General of the Galleys of the Knights of Malta.
Carafa, Brother Francesco Maria: (c1669-1672). Navigator. He served as the Captain General of the Galleys of the Knights of Malta.
caratone: A large cask used in Sicily. They varied widely in volume and those used for wine-production often reached the size of small rooms.
Carcinus: The father of Agathocles, tyrant of Syracuse.
Carcinus (mod. Corace), River: A river in ancient Bruttium. It is mentioned by Pliny the Elder. The name appears to derive from the Greek karkinos (= “crab”), which, in turn, comes from the IE root *kar- (= “hard”).
Cardinal: Sometimes called a “Prince of the Church”, a Cardinal serves as an advisor to the Pope. Most, though not every, Cardinal is also a bishop or archbishop, and normally resides in his own diocese, visiting the Curia only on special occasions. One such occasion that brings the Cardinals together is the election of a new Pope. When a reigning pope dies or, on rare occasions, retires, the Cardinals gather together in a secret conclave to choose a new leader. Most candidates are drawn from the ranks of the Cardinals themselves. There are three classes of Cardinals: Cardinal-Deacon, Cardinal-Priest, and Cardinal-Bishop.
Cardinal-Deacon: The lowest of the three classes of Cardinals. Most Cardinal-Deacons reside in the Vatican where they perform functional duties.
Cardinal-Priest: The middle-ranking (and largest) of the three classes of Cardinals. Cardinal-Priests are normally Ordinaries of dioceses and archdioceses.
Cardinal-Bishop: The highest–ranking of the three classes of Cardinals. There can be only 7 Cardinal-Bishops at any time.
cardo (or cardus maximus): the principal N-S street of an ancient Roman town, camp, or colonia. It ran at right-angles to the E-W running Decumanus Maximus. Normally, the Cardo was the principal street of the town.
Carini (PA): A commune in the province of Palermo. Founded by the ancient Sikans, it was originally named Hyccara. It was the birthplace of Laís, the famous courtesan painted by the artist Apelles, and who was considered one of the most beautiful women in history. She was captured during the Athenian sacking of Hyccara and sent as a slave to Athens. Carini was again sacked in AD 900, this time by the Saracens led by Ibrahim. This was also the birthplace of the poet Paolo Gambino.
Carlentini (SR): A commune in the province of Siracusa. It was founded by the Spanish viceroy Giovanni Vega in 1551, and was meant to replace malaria-stricken Lentini. It was named for Charles V.
Carlino (carolinus, carolenus, karolenus): A small Neapolitan coin, minted in gold and silver, used in the kingdom of Sicily-Naples. It was first introduced by, and named for, King Charles I of Anjou in 1278. It was minted in two types, a gold version (4.43 grams) and a silver version (3.34 grams). After the reign of Charles II, the gold coin was discontinued, but the silver one became the standard denomination for the mainland kingdom until the end of medieval times.
A new Carlino was introduced into the kingdom of the Two Sicilies by King Charles VII (r1735-1759).
It was equivalent in value to 10 grani, 20 tornesi, and, prior to 1784, 0.4368 lire. From 1784 to 1814, its value was equal to 0.4249 lire.
carob: (or caruba). A tree which grows abundantly in the southern part of Sicily. It has been widely used in the past for fodder, especially during times of drought.
carretto: A traditional 2-wheeled Sicilian cart. Its standard axle width was identical to those of ancient carts since their wheels could fit perfectly in the ruts worn long ago into ancient pavements. Usually measuring only about 5 feet by 4 feet, they could sometimes hold up to a dozen or more riders and haul a load of 100 stacked chairs. Foreigners nick-named them “Palermo Carts.”
carro: A simple trolley once widely used in Sicily. About 6 feet long, c18 inches wide, and c18 inches high, it was drawn by a single ass, and used for hauling heavy weights.
Carseoli: Ancient name for Carsoli (AQ).
Carthaginians: See the full entry on this topic.
Carthalo: (fl. late 3rd Century BC). Carthaginian military leader. He served as Hannibal’s cavalry commander in Italy during the 2nd Punic War. Left in charge of the Carthaginian forces at Tarentum, he was forced to surrender to the Romans when the city fell in 207 BC. Immediately upon his surrender, he was cut down by a Roman soldier.
Caruso, Enrico: (b. Feb. 27, 1873 in Naples; d. (full entry)
Carvilius Maximus, Spurius: (fl. 1st part of the 3rd Century BC). Roman politician and military leader. He served as Roman consul in 293 and 273 BC. During both of his consulships he warred successfully against the Samnites. He and his colleague L. Papirius Cursor were finally able to force the Samnites into a peace treaty, ending the Second Samnite War.
Casavola, Franco: (b. July 13, 1891 at Modugno (BA); d. July 7, 1955 at Bari). Futurist composer and theorist.
casèdde: an Apulian dialect term for a trullo dwelling.
caseddère: an Apulian term for a mason who specializes in building trullo structures.
Caserta, Province of: A province in Campania.
Caserta (CE): A city and provincial capital of the province of Caserta, in northern Campania. It is the site of a magnificent royal palace. Population: 79,432 (2006e).
Caserta, Diocese of:
Metropolitan: NapoliConference Region: Campania.
Area: 185 km²/ mi²
Total Population: 182,591
Total Priests: 112 (Diocesan: 68; Religious: 44)
Permanent Deacons: 33.
Parishes: 65
Caserta, Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) of: The largest and most magnificent royal palace of Italy, often judged second in Europe only to Versailles. Work on the complex began in 1752 under the direction of Vanvitelli, for King Charles III. The S. front of the great rectangular structure measures 780 feet in length with a height of 125 feet. 37 windows run the length of each story.
The theater in the is decorated with 16 Corinthian columns of African marble taken from the “temple of Serapis” in Pozzuoli.
The palace is listed as a United Nations World Heritage site.
casidde: an Apulian dialect term for a field hut built in trullo style used for storage, or as a stall.
Casilinum: (modern Capua). An ancient town in northern Campania, on the river Vulturnus. It was famed for its defense against Hannibal in 216 BC. Although it received a Roman colony, it had declined to a place of little importance by the time of Pliny the Elder in the 1st Century AD. During the Middle Ages, the deserted site of Casilinum was chosen by the refugees of Capua to refound their city (New Capua) after their old home had been destroyed by the Saracens.
casina: (or villino). A Sicilian term corresponding to villa or a suburban house. In Sicily, the word villa is actually used for “garden’, irrespective of the presence of a house.
Casinum: (mod. Cassino). An ancient town in southern Latium, near the border with Campania. It was colonized by the Romans during the Samnite wars and eventually became a municipium. An important temple dedicated to Apollo was located on its citadel was built an important temple to Apollo. This cult was so popular that is not only survived but thrived well into the Christian era. The temple and cult were finally destroyed by St. Benedict in cAD 529, who founded the abbey of Monte Cassino upon the site of the destroyed temple.
Casinus, River: A small river which lay along the border between ancient Campania and Latium. It emptied into the river Liris.
Casmena (Casmenae): An ancient town in Sicily. Originally founded by the Sikels, it was taken over and colonized by the Greeks of Syracuse in 644/643 BC. It has been identified with a number of modern towns including Spaccaforno, Comiso, Rosolino, and S. Croce. In 486-85 BC, it was a place of refuge for the Gamori (the noble land-owners) exiled from Syracuse.
casr: An Arabic corruption of the Latin word castrum (= “castle”). It is found in several place-names in Sicily where the Saracens settled.
Casr Janni: The Saracen name for the Sicilian city of Enna.
Cassano allo Jonio, Diocese of: A diocese in the Ecclesiastical Region of Calabria.
Metropolitan: Cosenza-Bisignano.
Conference Region: Calabria
Area: 1,311 km²/ mi²
Total Population: 108,054.
Total Priests: 68 (Diocesan:61 ; Religious: 7)
Permanent Deacons:3
Parishes: 47.
Cassibile, River: (anc. Cacyparis). The site where Demosthenes and 6,000 Athenians surrendered to the Syracusans in 413 BC.
Cassiodorus (1): (fl. mid- 5th Century AD). Roman nobleman. According to some sources he may have been born somewhere in the Eastern Roman Empire. He held the rank of vir inlustris when, in cAD 440, he organized the armed defenses of Bruttium and Sicily in anticipation of Vandal attacks. He was the father of Cassiodorus 2.
Cassiodorus (2): (fl. mid-5th Century AD). Roman official and diplomat. He was the son of Cassiodorus 1 and the father of Cassiodorus 3. He held the post of tribunus et notarius in the western Roman Empire under Emperor Valentinian III. He accompanied Carpilio on an embassy to Attila sometime in AD 435 or later. Because of this mission, he was offered the rank of illustris as well as a considerable monetary gifts. Cassiodorus, however, accepted neither reward choosing instead to retire to a comfortable private life in Bruttium.
Cassiodorus (3): (fl. late 5th / early 6th Centuries AD). (full entry)
Cassiodorus (4): (full name: Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator). (full entry)
Castelbuono (Sic. Castieddrubbuoni) (PA): A commune in the province of Palermo, founded in 1269 by a count of Geraci. In one of its churches is preserved a holy relic, the reputed head of S. Anna, mother of the Virgin Mary. At the nearby monastery of S. Maria del Parto is the body of S. Guglielmo (St. William).
Castellammare di Stabia (NA): A town situated on the coast of Campania, at the foot of a hill. It sits on the site of the ancient town of Stabiae, destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79. Population: 65,707 (2006e).
Casteltermini (AG): A commune in the province of Agrigento. Population: 8,618 (2007e); 8,669 (2006e); 13,021 (1901). It is a center for sulfur mining, and is the birthplace of the astronomer Niccolo Cacciatore.
Castelvetrano (Formerly Castello Entellino) (TP): A commune in the province of Trapani. Population: 24,510 (1901). The name is thought to derive from the Latin words meaning “a post of veterans.” It is believed that the name was originally attached to some nearby ancient ruins, which was probably a colony founded for Roman veterans.
Castiglione di Sicilia (CT): A commune in the province of Catania. Population: 3,479 (2006e); 12,998 (1901); 9,473 (1881). The town still retains many of the aspects it had in medieval times when it served as a citadel for Roger di Láuria. This town was severely damaged during World War II.
Castor and Pollux: (Ital. Castore e Polluce). The two divine twins, known to the Romans as the Dioscuri, enjoyed great popularity in ancient Sicily. It is thought that their worship was brought to the island by the exiled Messenians who arrived in Sicily from Greece. The city which they founded for themselves, Tyndarus, bore the name of the father of Castor and Pollux (as well as of Helen of Troy). More correctly, Tyndaris was the husband of Leda, who had claimed the paternity of the children actually belonged to Zeus.
Castor-oil plant: A common plant in Sicily, found in a cultivated form is many gardens, as well as growing wild in the countryside.
Castra Hannibalis: An ancient town in Bruttium, situated on the SE coast, north of Scylacium. It was so-named because it occupied the site of the fortified camp used by Hannibal during his final campaigns in Italy during the 2nd Punic War.
Castra Minervae: (mod. Castro [LE]). A town in ancient Calabria, situated south of Hydruntum (mod. Otranto). The oldest town of the Salentini, it was later colonized by the Romans. Its harbor, Portus Veneris later became Porto Badisco. The town’s name came from its notable temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva.
Castrogiovanni: Former name of the Sicilian city of Enna.
Castronuovo di Sicilia (Sic. Castronovu)(PA): A commune in the province of Palermo. Originally of ancient origins, the existing town was rebuilt by Roger I on Monte Assaro. It was the site, on August 9, 1302, of the peace treaty between the Angevins and Aragonese thus ending the War of the Sicilian Vespers. The area around the town is noted for its fine yellow marble.
Castroreale (ME): A commune in the province of Messina. Population: 2,767 (2006e). Now about 11 km inland from the sea, there is evidence in the rocks around the town that the site was once underwater. Geologists have ancient shells, fish, etc, petrified in the local rocks. The existing town was founded by the Aragonese King Frederick II of Sicily, who chartered it in 1324. The site was earlier occupied by ancient Crizina or Cristina.casuarina: Also known as “she-oak.” This tree, originally from Australia, thrives in cultivated public parks and gardens of Sicily.
Casuentus, River: (mod. Basiento). A river in ancient Lucania. It emptied into the sea near Metapontum.
catacombs: Although the catacombs of Rome are by far the most famous, there are also many to be found in Sicily. Those who have visited the catacombs of S. Giovanni at Syracuse, claim that they are “among the best in the world, superior to any at Rome except that they have fewer emblems, frescoes, and inscriptions.” Other catacombs are found at Marsala (part of which were constructed for habitation rather than for burials), Agrigento, Palermo, Palazzolo and in the Val d’Ispica.
catafalque: (Ital. catafalco = scaffold). In Sicily, a catafalque is a temporary canopy placed over the coffin of a distinguished person, and over the sepolcri (Gardens of Gethsemane) prepared in Sicilian churches on Holy Thursday.
Catalan-Gothic: a hybrid form of architecture which combines elements of 15th century Spanish and northern European styles. Several examples of this style can be found in Sicily and on the southern Italian mainland. These include:
Palazzo Abatellis, Palermo.
Palazzo Marchesi, Palermo.
Palazzo Bellomo, Siracusa.
La Laterna, Brindisi.
Duomo di San Nicola, Bari.
Catane: (Katane. mod. Catania). (full entry)
Catania, Province of: A province in Sicily.
Catania, Metropolitan Archdiocese of:
Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese
Rite: Latin/Roman
History: Diocese of Catania erected in the 1st century.
It was promoted to become the Archdiocese of Catania on Sept. 4, 1859.
It became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Catania on Dec. 2, 2000.
Conference Region: Sicilia/Sicily
Metropolitan (if applicable):
Suffragans (if applicable): Acireale, Caltagirone
Area: 1,332 km² (514 sq. miles).
In 2006 the diocese had a population of 734,218, of which 724,886 (98.7%) are Catholics. There are 155 parishes, 400 priests (259 Diocesan and 141 Religious), 34 permanent deacons, 176 male religious, and 991 female religious.
Catania: (Anc. Katane, Catana): A city and provincial capital of the province of Catania, situated on the E coast of Sicily. (full entry)
Catania, Gulf of: Gulf located along the E coast of Sicily, named for the city of Catania, its principal port.
Catania, Plain of: The largest plain of Sicily. The soil is very fertile but has suffered in the past from malarial swamps.
Catanzaro, Province of: A province in Calabria. Population: 366,647 (2007e).
Catanzaro: A city and provincial capital of the province of Catanzaro, in Cosenza. Population: 94,612 (2006e).
The city’s name derives from Byzantine Greek Katantzarion, a combination of the Greek kata (“on” or “near”) and the Arabic anjar (“terrace”). This probable refers to the city’s high altitude (320 m) above the Gulf of Squillace.
Catanzaro-Squillace, Metropolitan Archdiocese of:
Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese
Rite: Roman/Latin
History: Diocese of Catanzaro is established in 1121.
Promoted to the Archdiocese of Catanzaro on June 5, 1927.
Renamed as the Archdiocese of Catanzaro-Squillace on Sept. 30, 1986.
Promoted as the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Catanzaro–Squillace.
Conference Region: Calabria
Metropolitan (if applicable):
Suffragans (if applicable): Crotone–Santa Severina, Lamezia Terme
Area: 1,604 km² (619 sq. miles).
In 2004 the diocese had a population of 249,426, of which 245,326 (98.4%) are Catholics. There are 122 parishes, 191 priests (136 Diocesan and 55 Religious), 18 permanent deacons, 82 male religious, and 196 female religious.
Catenanuova (EN): A commune in the province of Enna. Population: 5,048 (2006e).
Cath: See Cautha.
Catharnai: Ancient Etruscan goddess of hunting.
cathedrals: The most notable cathedrals of Sicily are located at Palermo, Monreale, Cefalù, Messina, Siracusa, Catania, Agrigento, and Mazzara.
Cattolica: A noble family in Sicily. One of its members founded Cattolica-Eraclea (near the ruins of ancient Eraclea-Minoa) and Mecara in 1642.
Catulus, C. Lucatius: The Roman consul who defeated the Carthaginian fleet in 241 BC at the Aegatian Islands, thus bringing the First Punic War to a close.
Caudine Forks (Lat. Caudinae Furcae; Furculae Caudinae): narrow passes in the mountains near the Samnite town of Caudium. It was here in 321 BC that a Roman army was ambushed by the Samnites and forced to accept a humiliating surrender.
Caudium: An ancient town in Samnium, situated on the road between Capua and Beneventum. Located nearby was the Caudine Forks (Furculae Caudinae), the site of a major defeat of the Romans by the Samnites in 321 BC.
Caulon (Caulonia): (mod. Castel Vetere). A city in ancient Bruttium located to the NE of Locri. It was founded as Aulon or Aulonia by Greeks from Croton or Achaea. It was attacked and destroyed by Dionsius the Elder, who transported its population to Syracuse, and gave its territory to Locri. Later rebuilt, it was destroyed a second time be Pyrrhus. A third city arose only to suffer a similar fate during the 2nd Punic War. Caulon was a site for the worship of the Delphian Aloppo.
Caulonia, Ancient: (mod. Punta Stilo di Monasterace). Ancient city in Bruttium. Strabo and Livy call it Caulonia, while Pliny uses the name Caulo. The name is of Greek origin, and is related to kaulos (=stem, shaft), so-named from the shape of the promontory where the town sits.
Caurus: A name used in ancient Italy for the stormy Northwest wind. It was the equivalent of the Greek Argestes.
Cautha (Cath): The Etruscan sun god.
Cava d’Ispica: A valley in Sicily which runs from Modica to Spaccaforno. It is the site for many former cave dwellings and ancient tombs.
cavallo: a copper coin which originated in medieval Aragon. Introduced into the Regno during the Aragonese dynasty, it remained in use in southern Italy until July 1862 when it was suppressed by the Italian government. Between 1784 and 1814 it was equal in value to 0.0035 lire.
cavea: The auditorium of an ancient Roman theater.
caverns and caves: There are many caverns throughout Sicily. Many have been utilized for tombs, catacombs, and residences. Many of these last were used by the poor at Syracuse and at Marsala.
Cavo, Giovanni de Lo: (fl.c.1270). Navigator. He was active in Aegean Sea as a pirate.