Quindici is a town and comune

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:...

of the province of Avellino

Province of Avellino

The Province of Avellino is a province in the Campania region of Italy. The area is typified by many small towns and villages scattered across the province; in fact only two towns have a population over 20,000; its capital city Avellino and Ariano Irpino....

 in the Campania

Campania

Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...

 region of 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...

.

Geography

Bracigliano

Bracigliano

Bracigliano is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy....

, Forino

Forino

Forino is a town and comune in the province of Avellino, Campania, Italy.-Battle:On 8 May 663 AD the town was the scene of a battle between the Byzantine army of Constans II and the Lombard army of Romuald I of Benevento, son of Grimoald I and duke of Benevento.According to legend, St...

, Lauro

Lauro

Lauro is a town and comune in the province of Avellino, Campania, Italy....

, Moschiano

Moschiano

Moschiano is a town and comune in the province of Avellino, Campania, Italy....

, Sarno

Sarno

Sarno is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, in the province of Salerno, 20 km northeast from the city of Salerno and 60 km east of Naples by the main railway.-Overview:...

 and Siano

Siano

Siano is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy....

 are nearby towns.

History

Quindici is situated in the province of Avellino in the Campania region of southern Italy. It has been inhabited by the Ausonians, Osci, Etruscans, Greeks, Sannites and lastly by the Romans who named the village after Quindecim. This is where the name Quindici, also meaning fifteen, was derived. There is a local legend that states that the town was founded by fifteen deserters of Barbarossa's army during the Middle Ages. This legend is completely unfounded; archeological evidence suggests that human settlements in the area date back to pre-Roman times. Original settlers were very likely Samnites from either the Pentri, Carricini, Caudini, or Irpini tribes.

The Fuscus clan, a subset of the Pentris, were early settlers in Quindici and became one of its principal families. Legend has it they were the lead clan of fifteen preying on merchant caravans which made the trek overland from the coastal city of Barium after having offloaded goods from points of trade in the east. The modern Italian surname, "Fusco" is a derivative meaning "dark one." The family is still represented in Quindici although many emigrated to the United States of America in the early 20th century.

Both the Fusco and Graziano clans have vied for control of the town and region for many years with heads of both families claiming to be "Boss" at various times. The Graziano family left for the new world in the late 1800s leaving the Fusco family in control until their emigration ca. 1920.

There are many immigrant families from Quindici who settled in the North Eastern area of the United States, especially to the New Jersey towns of Hoboken and Paterson, Springfield, MA, and Utica, NY. There is also a significant population of Quindicese living in Connecticut.

Over the years and still going on today, clans that are trying to take control of Quindici or had controlled of it before and are trying to take control or share power again are the families of the Santaniello, Cava, Vivenzio, Scibelli, Siniscalchi, Grasso, Fusco, Graziano, and Manzi. In other words is being a power struggle between these rival clans for many many years for the control of the town, and is not going to change any time soon.

Sights

The principal church is that of "Maria S.S. Delle Grazie" (Our Lady of Grace). Her feast day is held on the 8 of September. She is also the patron saint of the town. The feast for San Sebastiano (St. Sebastian)and for San Antonio Abate (St. Anthony the Abbot) [Anthony the Great] (St. Anthony of Egypt) is held on 17 January and is accompanied by huge bonfires. Near the church of St. Anthony the Abbot in a large open space with outdoor festivities, local farmers bring their livestock and drivers bring their own automobiles at the gathering to be blessed by parish priests. Other town feasts to name a few are for: St. Lucia and St. Aniello in June. The feast for the Immaculate Conception in the month of December. The feast of the Corpus Domini in July. The reenactment of the Death of Jesus Christ accompanied by a late night procession around town during Holy Week. The visitation of the church of St Theodore the day after Easther Sunday located on the peak of one of the town`s mountain that can be reached by driving on a modern built road or by walking a old but picturesque dirt trail that leads to the church. While there a procession will take place taking the Statue of St Theodore from his chapel for a small procession around the outskirts of the church. From the mountain top one can see a panoramic view of the town of Quindici some 800 feet below. Next to the church a house is located where the Hermit of St Theodore resides all year round. He is a Quindicese of course and has the key of the monastery/church in case villagers or visitors want to visit it during the year. What a contrast this small town of about 3,000 habitants has as compare to neighboring towns. It is the most feared town for their criminal activities but yet it is most religious town boasting one or two religion processions or feast per month and I am not exaggerating. The Neighboring townspeople as well as the Quindicesi people cannot help but to love/hate the town both at the same time. And that goes for the visitors as well that after they get to know the town they cannot help it but to love/hate it both at the same time. It is an addicting town to say the least. But, deep inside everyone loves the town of Quindici for what it stands for: Unity, Fraternity, Hospitality, and Deep Family Roots and all that comes with it(The Goods and The Bads).