Melilli
Encyclopedia
Melilli is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Syracuse
, Sicily
(Italy
), located about 190 km southeast of Palermo
and about 20 km northwest of Syracuse
. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 12,555 and an area of 136.0 km².
The municipality of Melilli contains the frazioni
(subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Villasmundo, Città Giardino and Marina di Melilli.
Melilli borders the following municipalities: Augusta, Carlentini
, Priolo Gargallo
, Syracuse, Sortino
.
It managed to revive after two devastating quakes in 1542 and 1693. Since 1842 it has been an autonomous city.
A final mention goes to the neighboring salt-mines of Augusta, that were an important economic resource as far as the end of Second World War.
Saint Sebastian is very popular here and every year on 3 and 4 May he is celebrated with a fine festival drawing devotees from all Sicily. The Martyr lived in the 3rd century AD is celebrated by the so-called Festa dei Nuri its name relating to the fact that popular iconography used to represent Saint Sebastian undressed; in old times the faithful taking part to the celebration showed completely undressed. Today the event has lost much of its importance and the participants wear white clothes with red stripes that cover some definite parts of the body, that are where the Saint was hit. Over night, they run to the church dedicated to the saint, where they toss flowers onto His statue.
, (United States of America)Middletown, Ct. A large number of Melillesi immigrated to Middletown in the early 20th century, and the Sicilian-American Roman Catholic Church in Middletown, Saint Sebastian's, was modelled after the church in Melilli.
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 Syracuse
Province of Syracuse
The Province of Syracuse is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy. Its capital is the city of Syracuse.It has an area of 2,109 km², and a total population of 396,167 ....
, 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...
), located about 190 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...
and about 20 km northwest of Syracuse
Syracuse, Italy
Syracuse is a historic city in Sicily, the capital of the province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes. This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in...
. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 12,555 and an area of 136.0 km².
The municipality of Melilli contains the frazioni
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
(subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Villasmundo, Città Giardino and Marina di Melilli.
Geography
Melilli stands about 310m asl close to a mount (monti Climiti) overlooking the Megara bay and the industrial district of Augusta-Priolo. It is located in the Siracusa province.Melilli borders the following municipalities: Augusta, Carlentini
Carlentini
Carlentini is a town and comune in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily .The city's name has its origins in the neighboring town of Lentini. In 1551, Vice-King Giovanni De Vega founded a new city in honour of Emperor Carlo V, naming it in Latin Carleontini, or Leontini of Carlo...
, Priolo Gargallo
Priolo Gargallo
Priolo Gargallo is a comune in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily . It's located about 190 km southeast of Palermo and about 13 km northwest of Syracuse...
, Syracuse, Sortino
Sortino
Sortino is a town and comune in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily . It is located in the Anapo river valley....
.
History
It boasts a rather eventful history, the human presence apparently being attested since the Bronze Age. Its strategic situation between the major cities of Augusta and Syracuse has played a critical role in its growth. In the feudal age, it became a dominion of the Augusta County.It managed to revive after two devastating quakes in 1542 and 1693. Since 1842 it has been an autonomous city.
The town
Numerous interesting building are scattered throughout its centre. The Chiesa Madre, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, has a ceiling finely painted with the Triumph of the Faith by celebrated Olivo Sozzi. The Chiesa di San Sebastiano, dating from the 18th century, houses numerous paintings of by Sozzi, among which are a Coronation of Saint Sebastian and The Triumph of the Faith, and a fine marble altarpiece representing the Deposition of St. Bartholomew.Nature
The city environs are also very interesting. The River Marcellino, flowing nearby, offers fine naturalistic spots and an old necropolis.A final mention goes to the neighboring salt-mines of Augusta, that were an important economic resource as far as the end of Second World War.
Feasts
- Carnival
- Christ's nativity representation (during Christmas)
- Holy week
- Feast of Saint Sebastian - 4 May (Patron Saint of the town)
Saint Sebastian is very popular here and every year on 3 and 4 May he is celebrated with a fine festival drawing devotees from all Sicily. The Martyr lived in the 3rd century AD is celebrated by the so-called Festa dei Nuri its name relating to the fact that popular iconography used to represent Saint Sebastian undressed; in old times the faithful taking part to the celebration showed completely undressed. Today the event has lost much of its importance and the participants wear white clothes with red stripes that cover some definite parts of the body, that are where the Saint was hit. Over night, they run to the church dedicated to the saint, where they toss flowers onto His statue.
Principal Churches
- Church of Saint Sebastian Martyr
-
- Particular for its baroqueBaroqueThe Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style, the church of Saint Sebastian today is the principle of the town. In fact, every year the church reaches thousands of Christian believers coming from the nearest towns of the province during the celebration of the feast of Saint Sebastian (4th of May), the patron saint of the town. The church of Saint Sebastian is situated on the homonym square, the principal of the town, where is also situated the monumental lodges belonging to the 19th century.- Church of Saint Antony of Padua
- Mother church of Saint Nicola
- Church of Madonna del Carmine
- Church of Convent of Cappuccini
- Church of Holy Spirit
- Church of Madonna del soccorso
- Church of Madonna delle Grazie
- Particular for its baroque
Sister city
Middletown, ConnecticutMiddletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, (United States of America)Middletown, Ct. A large number of Melillesi immigrated to Middletown in the early 20th century, and the Sicilian-American Roman Catholic Church in Middletown, Saint Sebastian's, was modelled after the church in Melilli.