Mezzojuso

Mezzojuso
—  Comune  —
Comune di Mezzojuso
Mezzojuso Location of Mezzojuso in Italy
Coordinates:
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province	Province of Palermo (PA)
Area
• Total	49.4 km2 (19.1 sq mi)
Population (Dec. 2004)
• Total	3,003
• Density	60.8/km2 (157.4/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	90030
Dialing code	091

Mezzojuso (Sicilian: Menzujusu or Menziuso ^[1] ) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 34 km southeast of Palermo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,003 and an area of 49.4 km².^[2]

Mezzojuso borders the following municipalities: Campofelice di Fitalia, Cefalà Diana, Ciminna, Godrano, Marineo, Villafrati.

Contents 1 History 2 Demographic evolution 3 References 4 External links

History

The most significant local event happens before Easter, with the "Mastru Campu" ("maestro di campo" in Italian) which takes place on the last Sunday of Carnival, just before the start of Lent.

The municipality's economy is based mainly on the cultivation of traditional crops like hard wheat, sulla, and extra virgin olive oil, which is produced from old and new olives, and on the breeding of sheep, cattle and goats.

A small Saracen settlement from about A.D. 10th Century. Passed into Norman hands in 1091 and then granted, by the Norman king Roger II, to Monastery of Saint John the Hermit, of Palermo in 1132. The village was nearly depopulated in the early 15th century. The Monastery of Saint John granted settlement to 48 families of Albanian soldiers under command of the Reres family in 1490.

Mezzojuso means in Arabic: “Mensel Jusuph” which translates in English to “Houses or ‘hamlet’ of Joseph”. It could also be translated into Italian, meaning "Halfway down" because the town is located halfway down the hill.

Demographic evolution

Sicily · Comuni of the Province of Palermo Alia Alimena Aliminusa Altavilla Milicia Altofonte Bagheria Balestrate Baucina Belmonte Mezzagno Bisacquino Blufi Bolognetta Bompietro Borgetto Caccamo Caltavuturo Campofelice Di Fitalia Campofelice Di Roccella Campofiorito Camporeale Capaci Carini Castelbuono Casteldaccia Castellana Sicula Castronovo di Sicilia Cefalà Diana Cefalù Cerda Chiusa Sclafani Ciminna Cinisi Collesano Contessa Entellina Corleone Ficarazzi Gangi Geraci Siculo Giardinello Giuliana Godrano Gratteri Isnello Isola delle Femmine Lascari Lercara Friddi Marineo Mezzojuso Misilmeri Monreale Montelepre Montemaggiore Belsito Palazzo Adriano Palermo Partinico Petralia Soprana Petralia Sottana Piana degli Albanesi Polizzi Generosa Pollina Prizzi Roccamena Roccapalumba San Cipirello San Giuseppe Jato San Mauro Castelverde Santa Cristina Gela Santa Flavia Sciara Scillato Sclafani Bagni Termini Imerese Terrasini Torretta Trabia Trappeto Ustica Valledolmo Ventimiglia di Sicilia Vicari Villabate Villafrati

References

1. ^ George Dennis; John Murray (Firm) (1864). A handbook for travellers in Sicily: including Palermo, Messina, Catania, Syracuse, Etna, and the ruins of the Greek temples. J. Murray. pp. 218–. http://books.google.com/books?id=H4QOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA218. Retrieved 22 December 2011. 
2. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.

External links

• Mezzojuso 1820-1860 birth records THIS LINK DOES NOT WORK! NEEDS t/b UPDATED.
• Mezzojuso Heritage Pages