Castro, Apulia
Castro (Salentino: Casciu) is a town and comune in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-eastern Italy.
Castro | |
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Comune di Castro | |
![]() Castro | |
![]() Coat of arms | |
Location of Castro ![]() | |
![]() ![]() Castro Location of Castro in Italy ![]() ![]() Castro Castro (Apulia) | |
Coordinates: 40°1′N 18°24′E | |
Country | Italy |
Region | Apulia |
Province | Lecce (LE) |
Frazioni | Castro Marina |
Government | |
• Mayor | Luigi Fersini |
Area | |
• Total | 4.56 km2 (1.76 sq mi) |
Elevation | 100 m (300 ft) |
Population (30 June 2017)[2] | |
• Total | 2,395 |
• Density | 530/km2 (1,400/sq mi) |
Demonym(s) | Castrensi or Castrioti |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 73030 |
Dialing code | 0836 |
Patron saint | Maria SS. Annunziata (principal) and Santa Dorotea |
Saint day | 25 April and 6 February |
Website | Official website |
![](../I/CastroMarina.JPG.webp)
Castro Marina.
History
Castro derives its name from Castrum Minervae[3] (Latin for "Athena's castle"), which was an ancient town of the Sallentini, about 15 kilometres (9 mi) south of Hydruntum.[3] 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").[3] The temple had lost some of its importance in Strabo's day.[3]
References
- "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- Population data from Istat
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 485. .
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