Alessano

Alessano
Comune
Comune di Alessano

View of Alessano

Coat of arms
Alessano

Location of Alessano in Italy

Coordinates: 39°53′N 18°20′E / 39.883°N 18.333°ECoordinates: 39°53′N 18°20′E / 39.883°N 18.333°E
Country Italy
Region  Apulia
Province Lecce (LE)
Frazioni Marina di Novaglie, Montesardo
Area
  Total 28.48 km2 (11.00 sq mi)
Elevation 140 m (460 ft)
Population (2012)
  Total 6,436
  Density 230/km2 (590/sq mi)
Demonym Alessanesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 73031
Dialing code 0833
Patron saint St. Trifone
Saint day Last Monday in July
Website Official website

Alessano (Greek: Ἀλεξιανόν) is a town and comune in the province of Lecce, part of Apulia region of south-east Italy.

Although an episcopal see of Alessano (Alexanum in Latin) was probably established under Norman rule in the 10th or 11th century, the regular succession of its bishops began only in 1283 with a Giovanni from Naples. Until the 16th century, papal bulls regarding the bishopric called it either Alexanum or Leuca. It was a suffragan of Otranto. For three years (1518–1521), it was united with the diocese of Lecce under Bishop Giovanni Antonio Acquaviva d'Aragona. Byzantine usages continued to be observed until abolished by Bishop Ercole Lamia (1578-1591).[1][2]

The existence of the residential see was ended by the bull De utiliori of 27 June 1818 of Pope Pius VII, which assigned its territory to the diocese of Ugento.[3] As a result, the bishopric of Alexanum is today listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see.[4]

References

  1. Gaetano Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico-ecclesiastica da S. Pietro sino ai nostri giorni, vol. LXXXIII, Venice 1857, pp. 5-8
  2. Giuseppe Cappelletti, Le Chiese d'Italia dalla loro origine sino ai nostri giorni, Venice 1864, vol. XIX, pp. 322-326
  3. Bolla De utiliori, in Bullarii romani continuatio, Vol. XV, Rome 1853, pp. 56-61
  4. Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 829