Calatafimi-Segesta
Encyclopedia
Calatafimi-Segesta is a small town, more popularly known simply as Calatafimi, in the Province of Trapani
, in Sicily
, southern Italy
.
The full name of the municipality was created in 1999 and is meant to highlight the presence within its territory of the 5th century BC Doric temple of Segesta
, widely regarded as one of the most intact of its type. Adjoining the temple, on a nearby hilltop, is a 2nd century Roman amphitheater.
, when it was known as Qal`at(a)fīmī ( قلعة فيمي ), referring to the defensive castle overlooking the town, now partially restored from ruins. One hypothesis for the castle's name derives it from "Castrum Phimes" - a stronghold protecting the territory of a Roman period nobleman mentioned by Cicero, Diocles Phimes. Another hypothesis derives it from "Castle of Euphemius", possibly referring to the 5th century Byzantine patriarch by that name or, more likely, to the 9th century Euphemius of Sicily, a legendary figure who was said to have brought Muslim mercenaries to Sicily in 827 to help defend his throne, only to have them conquer the island for themselves.
Calatafimi's part of Sicily was one of the first to be occupied by the Aghlabids from Ifriqiya
in their conquest of the island, and was one of the last centers of Islamic culture after the end of the Norman rule. The excavations near Segesta have revealed a 12th-century Islamic necropolis and mosque. There are also reference to an Islamic-period town called Calathamet (Qal`at al-Hammah - قلعة الحمّة), on the border of the territories of Calatafimi and Castellammare del Golfo
, possibly equating the modern Terme Segestani.
From 1336 until 1860, Calatafimi was feudal territory under Habsburg and Spanish nobles, despite three attempts to regain an independent status (1399, 1412 and 1802).
It was on a hill near Calatafimi, called Pianto Romano, that, in 1860, Giuseppe Garibaldi
and his Mille first encountered the troops of the Bourbons on a battlefield (see the Battle of Calatafimi
). This was the first significant battle of the Italian unification (or Risorgimento) and it was at this battle that Garibaldi was said to have uttered the famous battle cry: "Here we make Italy, or we die". A memorial, in the form of large stone obelisk containing an ossuary of the remains of those fallen in the battle, currently marks the hilltop.
In his later life, the 19th century English novelist Samuel Butler
made annual trips to Calatafimi, and a street in town was named after him. Summer theater is held in the Roman amphitheater at Segesta every other year. A new archaeological museum is being created that will show findings from the Segesta archaeological excavations.
After World War II
, Canada and Australia became destinations, as did Germany and Great Britain and the major cities of the Italian mainland. The census of 2004 showed Calatafimi with only about 7,500 permanent residents, although the physical size of the town had grown, as families occupied larger residences. Following severe damage in the 1968 Belice Valley earthquake, a new section of town, Sasi, was built on former farmlands about 3 kilometers from the old town center.
The "mother" church of the town is San Silvestro Papa (dedicated to Pope Sylvester), restructured circa 1500.
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...
, in 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,...
, southern 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...
.
The full name of the municipality was created in 1999 and is meant to highlight the presence within its territory of the 5th century BC Doric temple of Segesta
Segesta
Segesta was the political center of the Elymian people, located in the northwestern part of Sicily, in what are now the province of Trapani and the comune of Calatafimi-Segesta....
, widely regarded as one of the most intact of its type. Adjoining the temple, on a nearby hilltop, is a 2nd century Roman amphitheater.
History
The town was developed during the age of the Muslim emirate of SicilyEmirate of Sicily
The Emirate of Sicily was an Islamic state on the island of Sicily , which existed from 965 to 1072.-First Arab invasions of Sicily:...
, when it was known as Qal`at(a)fīmī ( قلعة فيمي ), referring to the defensive castle overlooking the town, now partially restored from ruins. One hypothesis for the castle's name derives it from "Castrum Phimes" - a stronghold protecting the territory of a Roman period nobleman mentioned by Cicero, Diocles Phimes. Another hypothesis derives it from "Castle of Euphemius", possibly referring to the 5th century Byzantine patriarch by that name or, more likely, to the 9th century Euphemius of Sicily, a legendary figure who was said to have brought Muslim mercenaries to Sicily in 827 to help defend his throne, only to have them conquer the island for themselves.
Calatafimi's part of Sicily was one of the first to be occupied by the Aghlabids from Ifriqiya
Ifriqiya
In medieval history, Ifriqiya or Ifriqiyah was the area comprising the coastal regions of what are today western Libya, Tunisia, and eastern Algeria. This area included what had been the Roman province of Africa, whose name it inherited....
in their conquest of the island, and was one of the last centers of Islamic culture after the end of the Norman rule. The excavations near Segesta have revealed a 12th-century Islamic necropolis and mosque. There are also reference to an Islamic-period town called Calathamet (Qal`at al-Hammah - قلعة الحمّة), on the border of the territories of Calatafimi and Castellammare del Golfo
Castellammare del Golfo
Castellammare del Golfo is a town and comune in the Trapani Province of Sicily. The name is roughly translated "Sea- Fortress of the Gulf", deriving from the medieval fortress in the harbor...
, possibly equating the modern Terme Segestani.
From 1336 until 1860, Calatafimi was feudal territory under Habsburg and Spanish nobles, despite three attempts to regain an independent status (1399, 1412 and 1802).
It was on a hill near Calatafimi, called Pianto Romano, that, in 1860, 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...
and his Mille first encountered the troops of the Bourbons on a battlefield (see the Battle of Calatafimi
Battle of Calatafimi
The Battle of Calatafimi was fought on May 15, 1860 between Giuseppe Garibaldi's volunteers and Hungarians veterans and the troops of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies at Calatafimi, Sicily, as part of the Expedition of the Thousand ....
). This was the first significant battle of the Italian unification (or Risorgimento) and it was at this battle that Garibaldi was said to have uttered the famous battle cry: "Here we make Italy, or we die". A memorial, in the form of large stone obelisk containing an ossuary of the remains of those fallen in the battle, currently marks the hilltop.
In his later life, the 19th century English novelist Samuel Butler
Samuel Butler (novelist)
Samuel Butler was an iconoclastic Victorian author who published a variety of works. Two of his most famous pieces are the Utopian satire Erewhon and a semi-autobiographical novel published posthumously, The Way of All Flesh...
made annual trips to Calatafimi, and a street in town was named after him. Summer theater is held in the Roman amphitheater at Segesta every other year. A new archaeological museum is being created that will show findings from the Segesta archaeological excavations.
Population
The population of Calatafimi in 1901 was recorded as 11,426. Subsequent major emigrations due to poverty and unemployment kept the number from growing and, after 1950, the population began decreasing. Prior to 1900, the main destination was Tunisia; after 1900 it was the United States and Argentina.After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Canada and Australia became destinations, as did Germany and Great Britain and the major cities of the Italian mainland. The census of 2004 showed Calatafimi with only about 7,500 permanent residents, although the physical size of the town had grown, as families occupied larger residences. Following severe damage in the 1968 Belice Valley earthquake, a new section of town, Sasi, was built on former farmlands about 3 kilometers from the old town center.
Main sights
The church of the Santissimo Crocifisso was built to house the so-called Most Holy Crucifix (see Culture) circa 1700. The co-patroness of the town is the Madonna of Giubino; a church was built in 1721 to house an allegedly miraculous marble-relief icon of the madonna, which is brought to a country chapel during the summer. (A copy of the relief is housed in the Church of St. Joseph in Brooklyn, New York, giving testimony to the large emigrant community of Calatafimesi who lived in Brooklyn in the early 20th century.)The "mother" church of the town is San Silvestro Papa (dedicated to Pope Sylvester), restructured circa 1500.