Quindici

Quindici
Comune
Comune di Quindici
Quindici

Location of Quindici in Italy

Coordinates: 40°52′N 14°39′E / 40.867°N 14.650°ECoordinates: 40°52′N 14°39′E / 40.867°N 14.650°E
Country Italy
Region Campania
Province Avellino (AV)
Area
  Total 23 km2 (9 sq mi)
Population
  Total 3,030
  Density 130/km2 (340/sq mi)
Demonym Quindicese
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 83020
Dialing code 081

Quindici is a town and comune of the province of Avellino in the Campania region of southern Italy.

Bracigliano, Forino, Lauro, Moschiano, Sarno and Siano are nearby towns.

History

Quindici has been inhabited by Ausonians, Osci, Etruscans, Greeks and Samnites, followed by the Romans who named the village Quindecim. The name Quindici implying fifteen is derived from the Latin word ‘Quindecim’.

A local legend states that the town was founded by fifteen deserters of Barbarossa's army during the Middle Ages. This legend is unfounded; archeological evidence suggests that human settlements in the area date back to pre-Roman times. Original settlers were likely Samnites from either the Pentri, Carricini, Caudini,or Irpini tribes.

The Fuscus clan, a subset of the Pentris, were early settlers in Quindici and became one of its principal families. Legend suggests they were the lead clan of fifteen, preying on merchant caravans which made the trek overland from the coastal city of Barium after having offloaded goods from points of trade in the east. The modern Italian surname "Fusco" is a derivative from Fuscus, meaning "dark one". The family is still represented in Quindici although many emigrated to the US in the early 20th century.

Both the Fusco and Graziano clans vied for control of the town and region for many years with heads of both families claiming to be 'Boss' at various times. The Graziano family left for the new world in the late 1800s, leaving the Fusco family in control until their emigration ca. 1920.

There are many immigrant families from Quindici who settled in the north eastern area of the US, especially to New Jersey, towns of Hoboken and Paterson, Springfield, MA, and Utica, NY. There is also a significant population of Quindicese living in Connecticut.

Over the years, and continuing today, rival clans have fought for control of Quindici. These include the Bonavita, Santaniello, Cava, Vivenzio, Scibelli, Siniscalchi, Grasso, Fusco, Graziano, and Manzi families.[1]

Sights

The principal church is that of the town's patron saint, Maria S.S. Delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace). Her feast day is held on 8 September.

The feast for San Sebastiano (St. Sebastian) and for San Antonio Abate (St. Anthony the Abbot) [Anthony the Great] (St. Anthony of Egypt) is held on 17 January and is accompanied by large bonfires. In an open space near the church of St Anthony the Abbot, local farmers bring their livestock and drivers bring their vehicles to be blessed by parish priests.

Other town feasts include St. Lucia and St. Aniello in June; The Feast for the Immaculate Conception in December; The Feast of the Corpus Domini in July; and The Reenactment of the Death of Jesus Christ, accompanied by a late night procession around town, during Holy Week.

The Visitation of the Church of St Theodore the day after Easter Sunday is located on the peak of one of the town's mountains. The church can be reached by driving on a modern built road or by walking along an old but picturesque dirt trail. The celebration includes a small procession by the chapel's statue of St Theodore and around the outskirts of the church. From the mountain top there is a panoramic view of the town of Quindici some 240 metres (800 ft) feet below. Next to this church is a house where the Hermit of St Theodore resides all year round. A Quindicese, he has the key of the monastery/church in case villagers or visitors want to visit it during the year.

This small town of about 3,000 inhabitants has one or two processions or feasts per month.[2]

Notes and references

  1. "Camorra Fueds [sic]". Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  2. "NCRegister - Anthony’s Desert Changed the Church". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 22 November 2014.