Caltavuturo

Caltavuturo
Comune
Comune di Caltavuturo

Coat of arms
Caltavuturo

Location of Caltavuturo in Italy

Coordinates: 37°49′N 13°53′E / 37.817°N 13.883°ECoordinates: 37°49′N 13°53′E / 37.817°N 13.883°E
Country Italy
Region Sicily
Province Palermo (PA)
Government
  Mayor Domenico Giannopolo (since 14 June 2004)
Area
  Total 97.2 km2 (37.5 sq mi)
Elevation 635 m (2,083 ft)
Population (2004)
  Total 4,440
  Density 46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Demonym Caltavuturesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 90022
Dialing code 0921
Patron saint Maria Santissima del Soccorso
Website Official website

Caltavuturo (Sicilian: Caltavuturu) is a town and comune in the Province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The neighboring comunes are Polizzi Generosa, Scillato and Sclafani Bagni.

History

According to many scholars, the name and origin of the town are traced back to Arab rule (the name derives from the Arabic word Qal'at Abi l-Thawr, "stronghold of Abu Thawr"), named after a Muslim leader that controlled the area. Others instead maintain that the name derives from the Arabic word "kala" (rock) and the Sicilian "vuturu" (vulture) so going to take the meaning of "Rock of vultures."

The town was the site of the so-called Caltavuturo massacre on 20 January 1893, when local authorities killed 13 and wounded 21 peasants that had occupied communal land that they claimed was theirs.[1]

References

  1. (Italian) L’eccidio di «San Sebastiano», La Sicilia, 8 February 2009