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Text & Photos :
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COMISO - HISTORY


GEOGRAPHY HISTORY ECONOMY TOURISM PHOTOS

Traces of human settlements, from the Neolithic Age, were recovered on the close hills, where Siculi founded several flint stone's shops. Moreover, it is commonly thought that right here, in the area called "Cozzo di Apollo" was situated Kasmenai, mysterious and mythic Greek town. Historical sources assert the town was established in the area between Kamarina and Akrai.

Many ruins of Greek and Roman constructions were found out. A notable Roman flooring mosaic was brought to light by the "Fonte Diana" (Fountain of Diana).

Particularly during Byzantine reign, Comiso enjoyed new positive impulses. The town was surrounded with walls (at that time a representative sign of important town). Other nucleuses gathered around a nearby area, so forming the "Casale" (hamlet) of "Comicio", after called "Jhomiso".

Slowly the Casale grew up, especially under the Arabian occupation, and even more, during the Aragona's Spanish reign, when Federico Speciario from Messina was entitled Signor of the town. He built a castle and other fortified postings in the area, around which present Comiso eventually flourished.

In 1321 Berengaro da Lubera and, then, Giovanni Chiaramonte, were Signors of the town, which was annexed to the County of Modica. Again, it passed through other hands: to the noble Riggio family, and, then, to Bernardo Cabrera, Count of Modica, who sold it to the family Naselli, to solve his financial situation. The Naselli, noble local family, kept the feud up to the 18th century, contributing to its extraordinary economical and social growth, especially during the 16th century, when Comiso was also entitled County, for the important services offered to the Crown of Sicily. Gaspare II Naselli was the first Count. Their politics was among the most modern and "enlightened" in Sicily. They promoted the concession of lands through contracts of emphyteusis; the realization of a free customs market; the concessions of exemptions and privileges to the subjects.

The 17th century marked an involution in the process of growth of Comiso, due, on the one hand, to the foundation of the close Casale of Vittoria, which absorbed a large part of the peasants and families of the area, and, on the other, to natural disasters, like a terrible pestilence, in 1624, and an earthquake, in 1693.

The proud people of Comiso went over these tragic events and the town soon rose again in a newer and more sumptuous structure and architecture, in a typical Sicilian Baroque style.

The Naselli also promoted the birth and development of the earliest factories in Comiso: a paper factory was founded in 1729, and a soap-factory in 1742, managed by Filippo Sallemi and Biagio Guarino, two local craft-masters trained at the celebrated school of Messina.

During that period the family Naselli run into financial problems, because of which it was forced to sell its properties, as to pay off their heavy debts. The lands were acquired by the local peasants and landlords, whereas "grown" Barons purchased their noble titles.

These also were the last symptoms of the Feudalism. Comiso, and Sicily, entered a time of social deepest renewal, politically characterized, first, by the Borbone's accession to the throne, then, by the annexation to the Kingdom of Italy.

During Fascism, a military airport was open in Comiso, recently set up as a missile-base, then demilitarised.

GAL COPAI - Contrada Liccio km 10 sp Modica - Marina di Modica 97015 Modica (RG) - E-mail: copai@copai.it
Tel.++39 0932/779191 ++39 0932/752747-752897 Mob.++39 0335-7317510 ++39 0339-3021064

Regione Sicilia Comunità Europea Leader II Copai

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