Caccamo

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Caccamo
coat of arms
Caccamo (Italy)
Caccamo
Country Italy
region Sicily
Metropolitan city Palermo  (PA)
Local name Càccamu
Coordinates 37 ° 56 ′  N , 13 ° 40 ′  E Coordinates: 37 ° 56 ′ 0 ″  N , 13 ° 40 ′ 0 ″  E
height 521  m slm
surface 187 km²
Residents 7,997 (Dec. 31, 2019)
Population density 43 inhabitants / km²
Post Code 90012
prefix 091
ISTAT number 082014
Popular name Caccamesi
Website Caccamo

Caccamo is a city of Metropolitan city of Palermo in the Region of Sicily in Italy with 7997 inhabitants (December 31, 2019).

Location and dates

Caccamo is 48 km southeast of Palermo . The residents mainly work in agriculture and animal husbandry. Caccamo is also known for its furniture industry. Some of the manufacturers offer modern designed products. Their exhibition rooms contrast with the well-preserved and well-kept medieval structure of the city center. Caccamo is also known for its dairy products and a special Mettwurst that even has a festival dedicated to (Sagra della salsiccia).

The neighboring municipalities are Alia , Aliminusa , Baucina , Casteldaccia , Ciminna , Montemaggiore Belsito , Roccapalumba , Sciara , Sclafani Bagni , Termini Imerese , Trabia , Ventimiglia di Sicilia and Vicari .

history

The date of establishment is unknown. Legend has it that the city was founded in 480 BC. Was founded by Carthaginians who had to flee after the lost battle near the town of Himera , about 20 km away (see Battle of Himera ). This would have given the place the name Caccabe (horse head). It is possible that this is how the horse's head found its way into today's city arms. Other interpretations, however, suggest an origin from the Greek kakkabe (partridge), from the Latin cac (c) abus (or Greek kákabos : pan, pan, cauldron), from the Arabic kùkum (cauldron) or from the Sicilian caccamu ( lotus tree ).

The mention of the city is actually only documented in a document from 1093, in which Roger I assigned Caccamo to the diocese of Agrigento . The Normans also built the fort. At that time Caccamo was one of the most important bases in Sicily. From the 14th century the place was fiefdom of various noble families, including the Chiaramonte family . This only changed in the 19th century with the Risorgimento , the beginning of the modern Italian nation-state.

In the map of Samuel von Schmettau from 1720/21 the city is already listed under its current name.

Attractions

panorama

The entire historical center of Caccamo is a sight in itself. The medieval structure with its extremely narrow streets has largely been preserved. That is possible u. a. because of a modern bypass that directs travelers north-east past the old town. Caccamo Castle is at the western end of the old town. It was probably built as a lookout tower on a rock and was developed into one of the largest castles in Sicily over the centuries. The region of Sicily bought it in 1963 and made it available for cultural and tourist purposes. In addition to the castle, the numerous Caccamos churches are worth seeing. There are 26 churches on the city map of Caccamo. 7 of them are marked as no longer used. The main active churches include:

  • The cathedral dedicated to Saint George ( Chiesa Madre S. Giorgio Martire ). It was founded by the Normans in 1090 and enlarged in 1614. Around the cathedral square there are other baroque monuments such as the Chiesa dell'Oratorio , the Palazzo del Monte di Pietà and the Chiesa delle anime sante del Purgatorio . The cathedral square is also the scene of festivals and cultural events.
  • The Church of the Holy Virgin ( Chiesa SS. Annunziata ). It was founded around 1200 and is today particularly characterized by its baroque elements.
  • The Church of St. Benedict ( Chiesa San Benedetto alla Badia ). It was founded in 1615 by Benedictine nuns.
  • The Church of St. Mary ( Chiesa S. Maria degli Angeli ). In it are u. a. the remains of St. Giovanni Liccio , patron saint of Caccamo.

Personalities

The mafioso Carlo Gambino (1902–1976), head of the New York Gambino family named after him, and the painter Pino Concialdi (1946–2015) were born in Caccamo.

Events

  • The Castellana di Caccamo is a festival that takes place every year in mid-August in honor of the castle. The old castle life is revived with historical costumes, music and poetry. In 1998, groups caring for this tradition from all over Europe took part in the Castellana di Caccamo.
  • On Palm Sunday, Caccamo commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem with U Signuruzzu a cavaddu .
  • The Assumption of Mary is celebrated in Caccamo with a Marunnuzza .

literature

  • Liliane Dufour: La Sicilia disegnata. La carta di Samuel von Schmettau (1720–1721) . Ed. Società Storia Patria, Palermo 1995, ISBN 88-7401-066-4 .
  • Associazione Turistica Pro Loco “Giorgio Ponte”: Caccamo - Città d'arte (map) . Pubblimaste, Caccamo.

Web links

Commons : Caccamo  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Statistiche demografiche ISTAT. Monthly population statistics of the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica , as of December 31 of 2019.
  2. ↑ Liliane Dufour: La Sicilia disegnata. , 1995, Tavola 10