Mezzojuso
Encyclopedia
Mezzojuso is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Palermo
in the Italian
region Sicily
, located about 34 km southeast of Palermo
. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,003 and an area of 49.4 km².
Mezzojuso borders the following municipalities: Campofelice di Fitalia
, Cefalà Diana
, Ciminna
, Godrano
, Marineo
, Villafrati
.
The municipality's economy is based mainly on the cultivation of traditional crops like hard wheat, sulla, and extra virgin olive oil, which is produced from old and new olives, and on the breeding of sheep, cattle and goats.
A small Saracen settlement from about A.D. 10th Century. Passed into Norman hands in 1091 and then granted, by the Norman king Roger II, to Monastery of Saint John the Hermit, of Palermo in 1132. The village was nearly depopulated in the early 15th century. The Monastery of Saint John granted settlement to 48 families of Albanian soldiers under command of the Reres family in 1490.
Mezzojuso means in Arabic: “Mensel Jusuph” which translates in English to “Houses or ‘hamlet’ of Joseph”. It could also be translated into Italian, meaning "Halfway down" because the town is located halfway down the hill.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the Province of Palermo
Province of Palermo
The Province of Palermo is a province in the autonomous region of Sicily, a major island in Southern Italy. Its capital is the city of Palermo. The Province of Palermo has 82 comuni , 1,239,272 inhabitants, and is 4,992 km² .-External links:...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, located about 34 km southeast of Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,003 and an area of 49.4 km².
Mezzojuso borders the following municipalities: Campofelice di Fitalia
Campofelice di Fitalia
Campofelice di Fitalia is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 35 km southeast of Palermo...
, Cefalà Diana
Cefalà Diana
Cefalà Diana is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 25 km southeast of Palermo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 991 and an area of 9.0 km².Cefalà Diana borders the following municipalities: Marineo, Mezzojuso, Villafrati....
, Ciminna
Ciminna
Ciminna is a Sicilian city in the province of Palermo, located approximately 30 miles south east of its capital, Palermo. The city's economy is derived mainly from agriculture and traditional crafts...
, Godrano
Godrano
Godrano is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 25 km south of Palermo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,164 and an area of 38.9 km²....
, Marineo
Marineo
-Marineo, Sicily:Marineo is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 20 km south of Palermo...
, Villafrati
Villafrati
Villafrati is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 25 km southeast of Palermo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,350 and an area of 25.6 km²....
.
History
The most significant local event happens before Easter, with the "Mastru Campu" ("maestro di campo" in Italian) which takes place on the last Sunday of Carnival, just before the start of Lent.The municipality's economy is based mainly on the cultivation of traditional crops like hard wheat, sulla, and extra virgin olive oil, which is produced from old and new olives, and on the breeding of sheep, cattle and goats.
A small Saracen settlement from about A.D. 10th Century. Passed into Norman hands in 1091 and then granted, by the Norman king Roger II, to Monastery of Saint John the Hermit, of Palermo in 1132. The village was nearly depopulated in the early 15th century. The Monastery of Saint John granted settlement to 48 families of Albanian soldiers under command of the Reres family in 1490.
Mezzojuso means in Arabic: “Mensel Jusuph” which translates in English to “Houses or ‘hamlet’ of Joseph”. It could also be translated into Italian, meaning "Halfway down" because the town is located halfway down the hill.
External links
- Mezzojuso 1820-1860 birth records THIS LINK DOES NOT WORK! NEEDS t/b UPDATED.
- Mezzojuso Heritage Pages