Mussomeli
Encyclopedia
Mussomeli is a town and comune
in the province of Caltanissetta
, Sicily
, Italy
.
with the name Manfredi, but later the current name, probable of Arab origin, was reimposed. In 1549 it became a county under the Lanza
family. A feast is held every September for the Madonna of the Miracles. A similar feast is held simultaneously in Buffalo, which has a large number of Mussomeli émigrés and their descendants.
Many townpeople also emigrated to the UK, to London
and Woking
, Surrey where the Madonna dei Miracoli (Madonna of Miracles) is celebrated every July. The most common surname in Mussomeli is Messina.
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:...
in the province of Caltanissetta
Province of Caltanissetta
The Province of Caltanissetta is a province in the southern part of Sicily, Italy...
, 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,...
, Italy
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...
.
History
Mussomeli was founded in the 14th century by Manfredo III ChiaramonteChiaramonte
The Chiaramonte are a noble family of Sicily, claiming descent from Charlemagne. They became the most powerful and wealthy family in Sicily. In the 13th century the marriage of Manfredi Chiaramonte to Isabella Mosca, united the two Sicilian counties of Modica and Ragusa...
with the name Manfredi, but later the current name, probable of Arab origin, was reimposed. In 1549 it became a county under the Lanza
Lanza
-People:Lanza is the surname of the following persons:*Alcides Lanza - Canadian composer*Andrew Lanza - New York State Senator*Angela Lanza - American actress*Angela Lanza - American singer*Beatrice Lanza - Italian athlete...
family. A feast is held every September for the Madonna of the Miracles. A similar feast is held simultaneously in Buffalo, which has a large number of Mussomeli émigrés and their descendants.
Many townpeople also emigrated to the UK, to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
, Surrey where the Madonna dei Miracoli (Madonna of Miracles) is celebrated every July. The most common surname in Mussomeli is Messina.
Main sights
- The Chiaramonte Castle Castello Mafredonico, built in 1370 in Norman-Gothic style. It stands on a high crag at 778 metres, 2 km outside the town. It has large halls, dungeons and torture cells, and a chapel with a precious alabaster depicting the Madonna dell Catena (1516). Near the castle are the ruins of a Greek-Italic village.
- The Chiesa della Madonna dei Miracoli (Church of Our Lady of the Miracles)
- The Chiesa Madre of San Ludovico (14th century). It was restored along Baroque lines in the 17th century.
- The Renaissance church of San Francesco.
- The 17th Palazzo Trabìa, with a noteworthy art gallery.
- The church of St. Anthony (16th century)