Maschito
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Comune di Maschito | |
|---|---|
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| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Basilicata |
| Province | Potenza (PZ) |
| Elevation | 594 m (1,949 ft) |
| Area | 45 km² (17 sq mi) |
| Population (as of 2007) | |
| - Total | 1,834 |
| - Density | 41/km² (106/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 |
| Coordinates | |
| Gentilic | Maschitani |
| Dialing code | 0972 |
| Postal code | 85020 |
| Frazioni | Caggiano, Cancada, Cantarella, Casano, Cerentino, Cerentino-Settanni, Cesina, Fontana d'Argento, Manes, Monte Calvello, Oreficicchio, Piano del Moro, Piano della Trinità, Serra della Nocelle, Sterpara |
| Patron | The prophet Elijah |
| - Day | 20 July |
| Website: http://www.comune.maschito.pz.it/ | |
Maschito is a town and comune of the province of Potenza, in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. Like other towns in the Vulture area, Maschito has provided a refuge for Albanian and Greek migrants displaced by wars on the eastern shores of the Adriatic.
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[edit] Geography
Located Northeast of Basilicata, a small town covering a hill named Mustafa about 594 meters above sea level. It is bounded by the comuni (Municipalities), of Forenza, Ginestra, Palazzo San Gervasio, Venosa. Maschito has a typical Mediterranean climate with a slight difference because of its distance from the sea.
[edit] History
Maschito was founded as a small town in 1467 under the care of Ferdinand of Aragon when the Albanian hero Skanderbeg was sent with numerous troops to fight the Angevin pretenders to the throne of Naples and the Barons. The capture of Kruja by the Turks and the abandonment of Shkodër/Scutari (1478-9) led to the first migration of Albanians (Abëreshë) to Basilicata.
In 1533, when the Fortress of Corone fell, and the conquest of Albania was certain, the Albanians were joined by a large number of Coronei (Greeks from Corone) who voluntarily followed Maldesi. The peace treaty between Charles V and Suleiman the Magnificent was signed in Constantinople on June, 1533. The plaza of the fortress Corone, located on the western boundary of Messina, was assigned to the Turks on the condition that the inhabitants who wished to leave could board a ship loaned by Charles V and find refuge in Italy. Therefore, the Coronei scattered through various parts of Southern Italy, settling in Basilicata, San Constantino Albanese, San Paolo Albanese which was called Casalnuovo Lucano between 1936 to 1962, and Farneta which received people from Ginestra, Barile and Maschito. At that time the, the territory of Maschito belonged to the Bishop of Venosa and the Prior of Gerosolmitano of Bari.
By law, around November 17, 1539, the Notary Giacomo Citamiore of Venosa, and the Viceroy Don Pedros of Toledo who was ruler of Naples, ceded the aforementioned territory to Sig. John de Icis who pledged sixty six ducats (L. 280.50) a year to the Bishop and 20 ducats (L. 85) to the Prior of Bari. Sig. De Icis was able to settle Maschito by public law, verified by the notary of Giovanni Francesco, and the Judge Cosenza on September 26, 1541. The Albanian Greeks were obligated to pay one ducat (L. 4.25) a year from the annual income of each household, and 200 ducats extra a year if the number of homes increased by one.
Maschito, becoming the Fife of Carafa D'Andria, the first of two centuries observed the Greek religious services in the S. Nicola Church, after which Catholic services were adopted by the Church.
[edit] Economy
The economy is based on agriculture, especially grapes and olives.
[edit] Notes and references
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