Turismo Unione dei Nebrodi

CAPO D'ORLANDO was originally an ancient Sicilian town called "Agatirno" named after its founder, the son of Aeolus, founded at the time of the Trojan War (1218 BC). Its existence is attested by ancient historians and geographers (Diodorus, Pliny, Ptolemy ) and by modern scholars including Meli and Fazello.

The ancient city was to include, in addition to the area of the promontory and part of today's downtown, the streets of St. Martino, Certara, Catutè, S. Gregory and Hull. Is estimated that the extension of the city and the development of its civilization from the immediate hills in ancient times, have been extended to the coast and the cape with the arrival of the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans.

The consul in 209 BC Levin is linked to a dark and tragic episode in its history: the deportation of about 4,000 men in Calabria, "society composed of thieves, criminals and exiles," says Livy.

Damian, in his essay "Nebrodi, Val Demone, Agatirno, mysteries of ancient history" has recently made a shocking interpretation of the episode. It 'may be the center Agatirno in Nebrodi of the Dionysian cult and that these rites were poorly tolerated by the Romans themselves, who found an excuse to deport the ancient Orlandini.

Meanwhile, evidence of Agatirno have emerged in different periods: in the last century has found a marble plaque in the current village of Roman (Villa Cangemi) along with grave goods to the existence of a necropolis, other tombs, skeletons and phitos came to light in 1980 and 1989 during an excavation work in road Letizia.

The most significant finding came to light in February 1986 in the locality of Bagnoli, near the port building, there were remains of a spa as part of an ancient Roman villa. Agatirno as it is, at the time of the coming of the Normans passed the name of Capo d'Orlando is still an issue shrouded in mystery and legend.

Goffredo da Viterbo, chaplain of Charlemagne, attests that it was the French emperor to call the Chief in honor of his famous champion. It is not excluded that "Agatirno" considered pagan name was deleted by the Normans too tied to the Church of Rome.

On 4 June 1299 the sea of Capo d'Orlando was the scene of a terrible naval battle between two contenders to the throne of Aragon brothers Sicily: James and Frederick. The destruction of the castle on the promontory is connected, a century later, the episode of the siege suffered by Baron Bartholomew Aragon by Bernardo Cabrera Count of Modica, speditovi by Martin King. There are reports of pirate raids on the shores orlandini in 1589 and in September 1594, and the tower of the head, continued to hold guards in weapons that provided the sighting of the Algerian pirates.

Erection of the Sanctuary (1600) built on the ruins of the castle, however, is linked to the discovery of a tiny statue of the Madonna, who became the patron saint of Capo d'Orlando. Meanwhile in the land of Malvicino, from the fifteenth century, had established the culture of "Cannamele". In defense of crops and associated trade Barons of the nose was erected a tower with associated works and a fort trappeto for sugar processing.

In the area of St. Gregory, however, was a tuna fishery, which covered the stretch of sea between Capo d'Orlando and Cape Calavà.

In mid-1800, on the slopes north-west of the promontory, formed the nucleus of the new village mainly inhabited by fishermen and their families, while the Plains to the cultivation of mulberry trees and vines began to graft citrus fruits, particularly that of lemons, which until now has been one of the pillars of the economy Orlandini.

The construction of the Messina-Palermo SS113, and the SS 116 Capo d'Orlando - Randazzo last Orlandino of the railway in the territory in 1895, allowed a considerable development of trade in citrus, as well as the beginning of a growing economic development and urban planning. At the beginning of this century were born the first feelings of autonomy by the City of Naso, which was granted after a long series of popular demonstrations, with L. June 25, 1925 No 1170. On September 27, 1925 was inaugurated the new City of Capo d'Orlando.