Castro, Apulia

Comune in Apulia, Italy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Castro, Apulia

Castro (Salentino: Casciu) is a town and comune in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-eastern Italy.

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Castro
Griko: Kàstro
Comune di Castro
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Castro
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Location of Castro
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Castro
Location of Castro in Italy
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Castro
Castro (Apulia)
Coordinates: 40°1′N 18°24′E
CountryItaly
RegionApulia
ProvinceLecce (LE)
FrazioniCastro Marina
Government
  MayorLuigi Fersini
Area
  Total
4.56 km2 (1.76 sq mi)
Elevation
100 m (300 ft)
Population
 (30 June 2017)[2]
  Total
2,395
  Density530/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
DemonymCastrensi or Castrioti
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
73030
Dialing code0836
Patron saintMaria SS. Annunziata (principal) and Santa Dorotea
Saint day25 April and 6 February
WebsiteOfficial website
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Castro Marina.

History

Castro derives its name from Castrum Minervae (Latin for "Athena's castle"), which was an ancient town of the Sallentini, about 15 kilometres (9 mi) south of Hydruntum. Its ancient temple of Minerva was said to have been founded by Idomeneus, who formed the tribe of the Sallentini from a mixture of Cretans, Illyrians and Italian Locrians (Central Greek tribe).[3]

It is also said to have been the place where Aeneas first landed in Italy, the port of which he named Portus Veneris ("Port of Venus"). The temple had lost some of its importance in Strabo's day.[3]

Castro has been since 1969 a Titular see of the Roman Catholic Church; its Latin name is Castrensis in Apulia.[4] Richard Sklba (1935–2024), auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, was the most recent incumbent.[5]

References

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