Castro, Apulia

See Castro for namesakes
Castro
Comune
Comune di Castro
Castro

Coat of arms
Castro
Location of Castro in Italy
Coordinates: 40°1′N 18°24′E / 40.017°N 18.400°E / 40.017; 18.400
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)[1]
 • 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
Castro Marina.

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

History

Castro derives its name from Castrum Minervae[2] (Latin for "Athena's castle"), which was an ancient town of the Sallentini, about 15 kilometres (9 mi) south of Hydruntum.[2] 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).[2]

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").[2] The temple had lost some of its importance in Strabo's day.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Population data from Istat
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Wikisource Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Castrum Minervae". Encyclopædia Britannica. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 485.
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