Vita, Italy
Encyclopedia
Vita is a town and comune
in inland South-Western Sicily
, Italy
, administratively part of the province of Trapani
. It is the smallest municipality area of the province of Trapani (8.88 km² circa). It is also characterized by the second highest altitude in the province, after Erice
.
The town was founded in the early 17th century, under the Spaniards, by a noble from Calatafimi
, Vito Sicomo. The birth of the township was then ratified by King Philip III of Spain
on March 11, 1607.
In 1860, the town gave its full support to the Mille led by Giuseppe Garibaldi
. In the arly 1900s, the city reached its highest population, with 6,000 inhabitants circa. More recently, its inhabitants have slowly left the town in order to move towards Northern Italy and foreign countries, with possibly its largest emigrant community located in Toronto
. Vita was heavily damaged by an earthquake
in 1968, and rebuilt in a new urban zone, close to the old one.
The derivation of the name is uncertain: it is possibly associated to the founder's name, but might either be of Arab origin (there is a town named Vita in Algeria
too), or even somehow associated to the same Italian word which means life.
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 inland South-Western 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...
, administratively part of the province of Trapani
Province of Trapani
Trapani is a province in the autonomous island region of Sicily in Italy. Its capital is the city of Trapani.It has an area of 2,460 km², and a total population of 425,121...
. It is the smallest municipality area of the province of Trapani (8.88 km² circa). It is also characterized by the second highest altitude in the province, after Erice
Erice
Erice is a historic town and comune in the province of Trapani in Sicily, Italy.Erice is located on top of Mount Erice, at around 750m above sea level, overlooking the city of Trapani, the low western coast towards Marsala, the dramatic Punta del Saraceno and Capo san Vito to the north-east, and...
.
The town was founded in the early 17th century, under the Spaniards, by a noble from Calatafimi
Calatafimi-Segesta
Calatafimi-Segesta is a small town, more popularly known simply as Calatafimi, in the Province of Trapani, in Sicily, southern Italy....
, Vito Sicomo. The birth of the township was then ratified by King Philip III of Spain
Philip III of Spain
Philip III , also known as Philip the Pious, was the King of Spain and King of Portugal and the Algarves, where he ruled as Philip II , from 1598 until his death...
on March 11, 1607.
In 1860, the town gave its full support to the Mille led by Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and...
. In the arly 1900s, the city reached its highest population, with 6,000 inhabitants circa. More recently, its inhabitants have slowly left the town in order to move towards Northern Italy and foreign countries, with possibly its largest emigrant community located in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Vita was heavily damaged by an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
in 1968, and rebuilt in a new urban zone, close to the old one.
The derivation of the name is uncertain: it is possibly associated to the founder's name, but might either be of Arab origin (there is a town named Vita in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
too), or even somehow associated to the same Italian word which means life.