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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.
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