Lacco Ameno

Rock fungo

Lacco Ameno
Country	Italy
region	Campania
Metropolitan city	Naples  (NA)
Local name	Lacco Ameno
Coordinates	40 ° 45 '  N , 13 ° 53'  E Coordinates: 40 ° 45 '0 "  N , 13 ° 53' 0"  E
surface	2.7 km²
Residents	8,053 (Dec 31, 2019)
Population density	2,983 inhabitants / km²
Post Code	80076
ISTAT number	063019
Popular name	Lacchesi
Patron saint	Restituta of Africa
Website	Lacco Ameno

Lacco Ameno is an Italian municipality with 8053 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019) in the northwest of the island of Ischia in the Gulf of Naples . A landmark of the place is a rock made of tuff in the harbor ( fungo ). Lacco is likely derived from the Greek word lakkos , which means stone . The adjective ameno ( German  pleasing, pleasant ) was officially added to the name in 1863. To the south of the village rises the almost 800 meter high mountain Epomeo .

history

In the late 8th century BC The so-called Nestor cup , which was found in the necropolis on Monte Vico in 1954 and is now exhibited in the Museo Archeologico di Pithecusae of Ischia, dates back to the 3rd century BC . The Greek settlement at that time was called Pithekoussai and was excavated by the archaeologist Giorgio Buchner . In 1883 Lacco Ameno was badly damaged by an earthquake; Together with the neighboring town of Casamicciola Terme , the quake claimed 2,300 victims.

However , this could not stop the change from a fishing village to a health resort with thermal springs . The Italian publisher Angelo Rizzoli made Lacco Ameno a place of the international jet set with several hotel buildings in the 1950s and 1960s . In 1962 he also founded the only hospital on Ischia, "Ospedale Anna Rizzoli".

On August 21, 2017, Lacco Ameno and Casamicciola Terme were hit by a moderate magnitude 4 earthquake that left two people dead, a partially collapsed church and several destroyed residential buildings.

Tradition and festivals

The Church of St. Restituta (Chiesa di Santa Restituta) in Lacco Ameno, which has been restored several times over the centuries. It is considered the most beautiful church on the island of Ischia

Beginning of a procession at the entrance to the Church of St. Restituta

The tourist season in Lacco Ameno opens with the festival in honor of Joseph of Nazareth (San Giuseppe) and a procession in the district of Fango near the church of San Giuseppe , which ends with fireworks. Easter is traditionally celebrated solemnly with a representation of the resurrection of Christ using wooden pictures from the 18th century in the central square, the Piazza Santa Restituta.

The festival in honor of the island's saint , the Restituta of Africa (Santa Restituta), has a long tradition. It starts on May 8th with a procession along the streets of the marina. The streets are traditionally decorated with fairy lights and arches. The festivities culminate on May 17th with a great maritime procession that begins in Casamicciola Terme. The festive service takes place in the church of Santa Restituta in Lacco Ameno. The diocesan bishop blesses the community. The center of the cheerful hustle and bustle that follows is again the Piazza Santa Restituta. On the last day, May 18th, the image of the saint is carried through the streets again in procession. The festival ends with loud daylight fireworks and a fascinating traditional fireworks display in the evening.

The festival of Santa Restituta also commemorates another event not forgotten by the townspeople. In the early 1600s, the Turks tested the sharpness of their scimitar in the church of Santa Restituta on the statue of the Virgin made of gilded wood, but were unable to cause it any significant damage. They also stole the bells that they loaded onto their ships. Due to strong winds and high waves, the sailors threw the bells into the sea not far from Ischia to reduce the weight. From the hills, the residents watched the amazing event and vowed to go out and retrieve the bells. Unfortunately, the Lacchesi did not succeed.

The celebrations of Saints Joachim and Anna , the parents of the Madonna, take place on July 25th and 26th with a procession of the wooden triptych of the saints on the streets of the community and fireworks at sea. It is combined with a traditional swordfish festival.

The feast of the Assumption of Mary , popularly known as the “Easter of Mary”, begins with the singing of traditional songs in the local dialect, which have been handed down for four centuries. The highlight of the festivities from August 13th to 15th are folkloric shows and the procession of the wooden simulacrum of the Virgin that is carried through the streets of the city. At the end of the festivities, a large fireworks display at sea welcomes the end of August day.

music

In the song Lacco Ameno , the place is sung by the singer and modern interpreter of the Canzoni Napoletane Renato Carosone . The text was written by the Italian poet Enzo Bonagura (1900–1980). The song is also interpreted in the 2005 album Accussì grande by the Italian actor and singer Massimo Ranieri .

Web links

Commons : Lacco Ameno  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Community website

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Statistiche demografiche ISTAT. Monthly population statistics of the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica , as of December 31 of 2019.
2. ↑ For rheumatism on the radioactive beach. In: Spiegel Online. December 15, 2002, accessed December 1, 2014 . 
3. ↑ Lacco Ameno. Archived copy ( Memento from May 26, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
4. ↑ At the Queen's mineral spring. Archived copy ( Memento from March 16, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
5. ^ Ospedale Anna Rizzoli. Archived copy ( Memento from September 27, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
6. ↑ Dead and injured after the earthquake on Ischia. Earthquake news, August 21, 2017, accessed August 25, 2019 . 
7. ↑ ^{a b c} Comune di Lacco Ameno: Feste e Tradizioni. Retrieved June 6, 2020 . 
8. ↑ The song "Lacco Ameno" by Renato Carosone and Enzo Bonagura on YouTube. Retrieved June 5, 2020 .