Caccamo

Caccamo is a town in the province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, with 8265 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012).

Location and data

Caccamo located 48 km southeast of Palermo. The inhabitants mainly work in agriculture and animal husbandry. Caccamo but is also known for its furniture industry. Some of the manufacturers offer modern designed products. Your showrooms contrast with the well -preserved and maintained medieval structure of the inner city. Caccamo is also known for its dairy products and a special sausage that is even dedicated a festival ( Sagra della salsiccia ).

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

History

The place is old, the founding date is unknown. The name comes from the Carthaginians, BC took refuge in 480 after a defeat in Himera here. The Normans built the castle. At the time it was one of the most important bases in Sicily. From the 14th century it was Lehnbesitz different families, including the Chiaramonte family.

It is said that the city 480 BCE was founded by the Carthaginians, who had to flee at the 20 km distant place Himera after a lost battle. This would have given the place its name " Caccabe " ( horse's head ). Probably so came the horse's head into tonight's coat of arms. However, other interpretations suggest an origin from the Greek " Kakkabe " ( Partridge ), from the Latin " Cacabus " (boiler ), from the Arabic " Kukum " (boiler ) or from Sicilian " Caccamu " (lotus tree).

In fact proves the mention of the city is in a document of 1093, which assigns Roger I. Caccamo of the Diocese of Agrigento. From 1094 Caccamo falls as a fief from a noble family to the next, among them the major Sicilian family Chiaramonte. This changed in the 19th century with the Risorgimento, the beginning of the modern Italian nation-state.

In the map of Samuel Schmettau of 1720/21, the city is already recorded under their current name.

Attractions

Is the entire historic center of Caccamo an attraction in itself. The medieval structure with its extremely narrow streets is substantially preserved. This is possible, inter alia, for a modern ring road, the north-east of the old town derives transients over. At the western end of the old town is the Castle of Caccamo. It probably originated as a lookout tower on a rock and was expanded over the centuries to one of the largest castles in Sicily. The Sicily region they bought in 1963 and put them for cultural and tourism purposes are available. Next to the castle, the numerous churches Caccamos are interesting sights. In city of Caccamo 26 churches are listed. Of these, 7 are no longer marked as used. Among the most important active churches include:

• The St. George's Cathedral, dedicated ( Chiesa Madre San Giorgio Martire ). It was founded in 1090 by the Normans in 1614 and enlarged. To the cathedral square around it are more 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 Virgin ( Church of the Annunciation ). It was founded in 1200 and today is 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 ( Church of S. Maria degli Angeli ). Nearby her, inter alia, to the mortal remains of St. Giovanni Liccio, the patron saint of Caccamo.

Events

• The Castellana di Caccamo is a festival which takes place in mid-August in honor of the castle every year. It revives the old castle life with period costumes, music and poems again. In 1998, this tradition nurturing groups from all over Europe at the Castellana di Caccamo part.
• On Palm Sunday Caccamo remembers U Signuruzzu a cavaddu in Jesus ' entry into Jerusalem.
• Assumption one commits in Caccamo with a Marunnuzza.