Itri

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Itri-stemma.gif
official_name = Comune di Itri
region = Lazio
name=Itri
mapx=41.28| mapy=13.53
province = Latina (LT)
elevation_m = 170
area_total_km2 = 101
population_as_of = December 31, 2004
population_total = 9198
population_density_km2 = 86
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|41|17|N|13|32|E
frazioni =
telephone = 0771
postalcode = 04020
gentilic = Itrani
saint = Madonna della Civita
day = july 21
mayor = Giovanni Agresti
website = [http://www.itri.it/ www.itri.it]
:"For the Turkish composer from the 17th century, see Buhurizade Itri".Itri is a small city in the central Italian region of Latium and the Province of Latina.

Itri is an agricultural centre divided in two parts by a small river, the Pontone. It lies in a valley between the Monti Aurunci and the sea, not far from the Gulf of Gaeta. The more ancient part, with the Castle, was partly destroyed during World War II.

The "Itrani" speak a particular variant of the Neapolitan dialect, the "Itrano".

History

The first direct documentary record of Itri appeared in 914, but settlements in the neighbourhood existed from prehistoric times.

According to legend, Itri's origins appear to coincide with the destruction of Amyclae, a marine city founded by the twin sons of Zeus, Castor and Pollux whose Spartan followers clashed with Aeneas. It certainly originated from a Greek colony, which likely came from the coast at about 20 km north of Fondi. Amyclae was founded between the Lake Fondi and the Terracina coast, on the limits of murky waters of the swamps present at the time. The quiet Amyclaeans were struck by the cursed and numerous forces of the swamp, unstoppable beings such as the monstrous serpent with nine heads, the Lernaean Hydra, which attacked from the swamps with poisonous venom, and whose heads would re-grow as soon as Hercules sliced them off with his sword. The city of Amyclae was soon annihilated. The few survivors abandoned the city and relocated a few miles south to the area now known as Itri. These first inhabitants of Itri adopted the emblems of the "Signum Salutis" serpent as symbol of power, and the dog's head "Amycleus" as symbol of fidelity.

The name Itri derives from the Latin word "iter", meaning "route" or "way", appropriate since the city lies where the old Roman Via Appia, built in 312 BC, crosses the Monti Aurunci by way of a narrow pass, the Gola di Sant'Andrea, called by Charles Dickens a "noble mountain pass". An alternative hypothesis on the origin of the town's name suggest it derived from the cult of the Eastern God Mithra, as there is a large subterranean temple dedicated to him a few hundred meters south of the town. Still another suggestion is that it derives from the Greek for snake "hydra", pronounced in some dialects as "itra". In Roman times Itri would have been no more than a post station, a role that it continued to perform until well into the nineteenth century; in Borbone times Itri was the 12th of 18 posting stations going south from Rome to Naples.

In the Middle Ages the population grew, and three lines of walls were built to protect the people living around the castle. Itri was part of the duchy of Gaeta and was a possession of the Dell'Aquila family, dukes of Fondi. In modern times Itri was part of the Kingdom of Naples.

Due to its location on the Gola di Sant'Andrea, Itri has historically been the scene of considerable military activity and a number of important battles. Perhaps the most famous was that in 1503 when Consalvo of Cordova defeated the French army under the command of the Duke of Nemours there, an action known as the Battle of the Garigliano.

During World War II, Allied bombing destroyed 75% of the city edifices.

Main sights

* The notable Castle, which commands all the neighbouring valley. It has a square tower merloned wall, attributed to Duke Docibilis I of Gaeta (882), to which his grandson Marinus II added a polygonal tower. A third tower, nicknamed "del Coccodrillo" ("Crocodile") is site in a lower position, directly over Via Appia. A third line of wall is from the mid-13th century.
* The church of "San Michele Arcangelo" (11th century), in Arabic-Norman style.
*The 12th century bell tower of the destroyed church of St. Maria Maggiore, with Byzantine art-style decorations.
*The Sanctuary of the "Madonna della Civita" is located 3 km from the city on a mountain once devoted to the Roman God Mercury with a splendid panorama. It houses a holy image of the Virgin, which, according to the legend, was painted by St. Luke. It was crowned here by Pope Pius VII, and again by Pius IX in 1877. King Ferdinand II of Naples visited the place in 1849.
*The Fortress of Sant'Andrea was built in the first century A.C. on the remains of an ancient Roman villa, located along the Old Via Appia in the direction of Fondi. This fortress was used by Fra Diavolo during the defensive operations against the French in 1798.
*The beautiful Church of "Santa Maria di Loreto" is located on a hill northeast from the center of the town. It is connected to the convent of the Cappuccini order. The painting of the Madonna of Loreto, created by 18th century neapolitan artist Sarnelli, hangs above the church's altar.

Patron saint

.

Popular tradition narrates that the sacred painting representing the image of the Madonna was found in the 8th century by a deaf and mute shepherd, who was looking for a missing cow on Mount Civita. Upon discovering the painting, the shepherd got on his knees, prayed and miraculously was able to hear and speak for the first time in his life. He went back to the town to share his discovery with the Itrani, who were shocked and amazed to witness that the shepherd could now make use of his auditory senses and speech.

The origin of the painting appears to be dated back to the 8th century, when the Byzantine Emperor Leo III ordered religious persecutions and banned the cult of sacred images.

Famous people

*Michele Pezza (Fra Diavolo)
*Pope Urban VI
*Paolo Burali d'Arezzo

Culture

* On March 19 of each year, the people of Itri celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph ("Festa di San Giuseppe"), patron of the carpenters. The festivity is tied to a secular tradition, and on that night very large bonfires are ignited, around which people dance around, sing and prepare the traditional “zeppole di San Giuseppe”, a traditional fried dough made with sugar, eggs and coated with honey.

* The day of Corpus Domini (60 days after Easter), Itri celebrates "L'Infiorata". An entire road of the town (via della Repubblica) is covered with a variety of different colored flower petals, used to reproduce sacred images and images of the town itself, such as the castle and its churches. At the end of the day, the religious procession passes over the floral masterpieces.

* The Feast of the "Madonna della Civita" is Itri's main attraction, celebrated typically on three consecutive days, July 20, 21 and 22. This is often an occasion for Itri's emigrants to return to their hometown. The 3-day feast is celebrated with religious processions, people walking up and down via Civita Farnese among amusement rides and hundreds of stands selling just about anything. Each night culminates with the performance of singers (with the most famous one performing on the last night of the celebrations) and spectacular fireworks.

* On the first Sunday of August, Itri celebrates the most important product of its economy, the olive. The feast known as the "Sagra dell'Ulivo" is celebrated with oil (on bruschetta) and olive tastings. Folkloristic groups also sing and dance in the main piazza. Itri exports much of its olive oil and olives, under the denomination of "Gaeta Olives". The product adopted the name of the more known nearby city because they were shipped from the seaport of Gaeta.

* Among the traditional dishes prepared in Itri are the "Pasta e Fagioli "(pasta with beans), Polenta with Sausage Ragu, Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms, Linguine with Asparagus, grilled, roasted or sauteed wild game (such as wild boar, jackrabbit, pheasant, quails, and other local wild birds), and the delicious Marzolino cheese (a sheep's-milk cheese) made locally. Many of the dishes prepared with porcini, asparagus, truffles and wild game come from the remote woods of Itri's own "Campello" location.

ister cities

*flagicon|USA Cranston, United States

Trivia

*The movie "Two Women" ("La Ciociara") with Sofia Loren was filmed in Itri.
*The legendary Itrano combatant Michele Pezza was the inspiration for Daniel Auber's famous 3-act opera "Fra Diavolo", and the 1933 Laurel and Hardy film, "The Devil's Brother".

External links

* [http://www.comune.itri.lt.it/ Comune di Itri official website] it icon
* [http://www.santuariodellacivita.it/ Madonna Della Civita Sanctuary] it icon
* [http://en.comuni-italiani.it/059/010/ Italian information on Italian cities and towns]