Mezzojuso
IL COMMUNE
Mezzojuso
is located in the northwestern part of Sicily, approximately 22 miles south of Palermo on the Agrigento road. While the name of the town translates literally to "halfway down" the slope of Rocca Busambra, it is actually an Italianate derivation of the original Arabic designation, Manzil Yusuf, or Village of Joseph, it being so named after the Emir in the early 1000’s. It passed into Norman hands in 1091, and was granted in 1132 to the Monastery of St. John the Hermit, Palermo, by the Norman King Roger II.In the year 1490, the monks granted settlement to the families of 48 Albanian soldiers (known as Arberësh), who had fought the Ottomans under the hero Skanderbeg. The town at the time was largely depopulated. It is their descendants who give the town much of the flavor it has today.
THE CHURCHES
As there are two prominent cultures in the town (Arberësh and Italian), so too are there two prominent Catholic churches: in the Byzantine Rite (I Greci) San Nicola di Mira, whose construction began in 1516; and in the Latin Rite (I Latini), Maria Santissima Annunziata, with construction beginning in 1572. There was much intermarriage, and typically the family would belong to the husband’s rite. Both churches are located in the town square, known as "La Ghiazza".
In the past, taxes were assessed by both churches. Byzantine rite records of 1618 list the name Schillizzi, while the Latin rite record of 1667 shows the names Bellone, Gebbia and Pinnachio.
TIME LINE
Ü
In 950, Saracen Arabs found the village of Manzil Yusuf.Ü
In 1091, the town comes under Norman rule.Ü
In 1132, the Norman king Roger II grants the town to the Monastery of St. John of the Hermit, Palermo.Ü
In 1490, the monks grant lands to 48 Arberësh soldiers and their families.Ü
In 1516, construction of the Byzantine rite church San Nicola di Mira begins.Ü
In 1527, nobles of the Corvino family of Pisa begin rule of Mezzojuso, which will last through 1832.Ü
In 1572, construction of the Latin rite church Maria Santissima Annunziata begins.Ü
In 1651, the population reaches 3,116.Ü
In 1714, population is recorded at a low of 1,149, largely due to an epidemic.Ü
In 1798, population rises to 4,030.Ü
In 1832, Mezzojuso comes under local rule.Ü
In 1862, 150 residents of Mezzojuso serve under Garibaldi, including Dr. Giuseppe Bellone. From this point on, its leaders are elected.Ü
In 1911, population peaks at 8,893; it will then decrease as its residents immigrate to America.Ü
In 1949, the frazione of Campofelice di Fitalia spins off from Mezzojuso into a separate commune.Ü
In 1990, the Sindaco (Mayor) of Mezzojuso is Antonino Schillizzi.