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| ALCAMO |
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| Alcamo
was founded in 828 by the Muslim commander al-Kamuk (after
whom it is named), though other sources date its origin to
c. 972. The original Christian settlement, definitively abandoned
in the 14th century, was located where remains of a tower
and a water reservoir (Funtanazza) can be seen in the neighbourhood. |
| The first document mentioning
Alcamo is from 1154, a
document by the Arab geographer Idrisi. Not many years later,
ibn Jubayr describes the city as a beleda (town with mosques
and a market). In the Middle Ages Alcamo was largely inhabited
by Muslim people, whose numbers declined however after the
Norman conquest of Sicily, begun in 1060. A series of Arab
revolts between 1221 and 1243 led King Frederick II to move
much of the Arab population to a colony at Lucera, while Christians
from Bonifato came to inhabit the city. In this period was
born the famous poet Ciullo or Cielo d'Alcamo. |
| Several feudataries of the
Kingdom of Naples succeeded in the rule of the city until
in 1618 Vittoria Colonna sold Alcamo to Pietro Balsamo, prince
of Roccafiorita, for 2,000 scudi. |
| In the 14th century Alcamo
had some 3,000 inhabitants. In the late 16th-century the population
was decimated by a pestilence, but gradually recovered, increasing
to 13,000 in 1798. Four years later its feudal status was
abolished and the city became a direct royal possession. In
1829 an outbreak of cholera again killed much of the population,
a misfortune which was repeated in 1918, this time due to
the Spanish flu. |
| In 1860 a revolt broke out
and numerous Alcamesi were active in the unification of Italy,
supporting and fighting under Garibaldi's expedition to southern
Italy. The Allied troops entered Alcamo without opposition
on July 21, 1943, freeing the city from Fascism. |
| Main sights |
| The Castle of the Counts of
Modica (14th century). It has a rhomboidal plan, with four
towers; two are quadrangular, two are cylindrical. In the
northern part a mullioned window in Gothic style can be seen. |
| Alcamo Cathedral (18th century)
has important works of art by Giacomo Gagini and Giacomo Serpotta,
as well as frescos by Guglielmo Borremans. |
| The surrounding areas include
interesting tourist and historical locations like Segesta
and Gibellina. The old fishing village of Scopello, 20 km
from Alcamo, has been referred to as having a remarkable seaside.
Another village considered worth visiting is Castellammare
del Golfo which is between these two places. |
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| Fonte wikipedia |
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