Mezzojuso

Mezzojuso
Comune
Comune di Mezzojuso
Mezzojuso Location of Mezzojuso in Italy
Coordinates: 37°52′N 13°28′E / 37.867°N 13.467°E / 37.867; 13.467Coordinates: 37°52′N 13°28′E / 37.867°N 13.467°E / 37.867; 13.467
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province / Metropolitan city	Province of Palermo (PA)
Area
• Total	49.4 km2 (19.1 sq mi)
Population (Dec. 2004)
• Total	3,003
• Density	61/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	90030
Dialing code	091

Mezzojuso (Sicilian: Menzijusu or Menziuso,Arbëreshë: Munxifsi) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 45 kilometres (28 mi) southeast of Palermo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,003 and an area of 49.4 square kilometres (19.1 sq mi).

Mezzojuso borders the following municipalities: Campofelice di Fitalia, Cefalà Diana, Ciminna, Godrano, Marineo, Villafrati.

Mezzojuso means in Arabic: “Mensel Jusuph” which translates in English to “Houses or ‘hamlet’ of Joseph”. It could also be translated into Italian, meaning "Halfway down" because the town is located halfway down the hill.

A small Saracen (Arab) settlement from about A.D. 10th Century, passed into Norman hands in 1091. Then the christian population erected the small church of S. Maria delle Grazie. The town and all the neighboring area was granted by the Norman king Roger (Ruggerio) II, to the Monastery of Saint John the Hermit, of Palermo in 1132. The village was nearly depopulated in the early 15th century. The Monastery of Saint John granted settlement to 48 families of Albanian soldiers, under the command of Demetrius Reres. The first Albanians who settled there were the said Reres with his two sons, leading three battalions of soldiers. King Alfonso of Aragon granted him permission to settle in the area and appointed D. Reres as a governor, with a decree of 1st Sept. 1448. Reres and his units had already served Alfonso and helped him to conquer Calabria, as Alfonso recognizes.

...
Wikipedia