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
Comune
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
CountryItaly
RegionApulia
ProvinceLecce (LE)
FrazioniCastro Marina
Government
 • MayorLuigi Fersini
Area
 • Total4.56 km2 (1.76 sq mi)
Elevation
100 m (300 ft)
Population
 (30 June 2017)[2]
 • Total2,395
 • Density530/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Castrensi 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
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
  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. Population data from Istat
  3. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Castrum Minervae" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 485.
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