Mussomeli

Mussomeli
Country	Italy
region	Sicily
Free community consortium	Caltanissetta (CL)
Local name	Mussum (i) eli
Coordinates	37 ° 35 ' N , 13 ° 45' E Coordinates: 37 ° 35 '0 " N , 13 ° 45' 0" E
height	750 m slm
surface	161 km²
Residents	10,262 (Dec. 31, 2019)
Population density	64 inhabitants / km²
Post Code	93014
prefix	0934
ISTAT number	085012
Popular name	Mussomelesi
Patron saint	Madonna dei Miracoli (September 8th)
Website	Mussomeli

View of Mussomeli

Mussomeli is a town in Caltanissetta consortium of municipalities outside the region Sicily in Italy with 10,262 inhabitants (December 31, 2019).

Location and dates

Mussomeli is located 60 km northwest of Caltanissetta . The inhabitants work in agriculture, animal husbandry or in industry (cement and bitumen production).

The neighboring communities are Acquaviva Platani , Bompensiere , Caltanissetta , Cammarata ( AG ), Marianopoli , Montedoro , San Cataldo , Serradifalco , Sutera and Villalba .

history

The area of Mussomeli was already around 1500 BC. BC, so in before Hellenic times, inhabited by Sicans . Archaeological evidence of Mussomeli's prehistory can be found in the cave of Chelli ( grotta di Chelli ). The Greeks, Romans and Byzantines left their traces here, including cisterns, lamps, vases and some golden rods. After the conquest of Sicily by the Muslims (Italian: musulmani) in the 9th century, the area of Mussomeli also came under their rule. The village is said to have been founded when the Arabs came to Sicily. The name is said to come from the Arabic words Kalà Abet el Mumin , translated: castle or fortress Abet el Mumin . According to other assumptions, Mussomeli would have a different origin: Musso da Menzil (hostel) or Meli da Malek , an Arab emir. According to ancient historians, however, Mussomeli comes from the Latin Mons Mellis (honey mountain). This explains why the Mussomeli coat of arms shows three towers with three bees flying over them.

At the time of the Hohenstaufen and Anjou rule , Mussomeli was only a small village of farmers and shepherds who were not involved in the numerous wars, which is why there is little evidence of the existence of the place for this time. Friedrich III. of Sicily from the House of Aragón is said to have transferred the area to Manfredi di Chiaramonte , who had a castle built here between 1364 and 1370 , which was named Castello Manfredonico . The earliest documented mention of Mussomeli comes from April 1392. In the privilege of King Martin for Guglielmo Raimondo Moncada , he gives him all the inhabited lands that were owned by Manfredi di Chiaramonte up to that time, including castrum Musumelis . The owners changed frequently afterwards. Via the Ventimiglia , Mussomeli came to the del Campo in 1467 , who sold the rule to Cesare Lanza in 1548 . The Lanza dynasty ensured the development of the place, which has meanwhile been elevated to the residence of a county of Mussomeli . In 1798 there were already 9,401 inhabitants, only slightly fewer than today, including 125 clerics. In addition to farmers and the bourgeoisie, the population now also consisted to a large extent of artisans.

In 1812, Mussomeli began to embark on a new era, with the establishment of two postal couriers. In 1818 a prison was set up on the ground floor of the parish hall. In 1820 the area took part in its first revolution and took sides against the Bourbons, as a result of which some patriots were sentenced to death. In 1832 the area was hit by a locust plague and in 1837 five hundred people died of cholera . Public lighting came in 1869, with kerosene lights on all roads, and the road to Acquaviva also made it possible to connect to the railway .

Attractions

Landscape near Mussomeli

Mussomeli Castle

In the town

Church of San Francesco in Piazza Umberto I.
Barons Palace in Piazza Umberto I.
Church of Sant'Antonio from the 16th century
Parish Church of San Ludovico in the Terravechia district
The Church of Maria, Palazzo Trabia and the Church of Monti are located on Via Lanza