Montemaggiore Belsito
Montemaggiore Belsito: a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Palermo
Montemaggiore Belsito is an Italian municipality with a population of 2979 located in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, in Sicily. The town is about 70 km from Palermo and is surrounded by fertile lands, making it an important attraction for the farming population of nearby centers.
History of Montemaggiore Belsito
Archaeological finds support the theory that the settlement of Montemaggiore Belsito occurred before the 12th century with the presence of a "casale". The presence of Arabs in the Montemaggiore area is also hypothesized.
In the second half of the 13th century, Montemaggiore was repopulated by mountain farmers from the Madonie region after a gradual depopulation followed the abandonment of a Cluniac monastery that was located there. By the end of the 13th century, Montemaggiore had already been elevated to the rank of "terra".
From 1410, there was news of a Benedictine monastery founded by the Ventimiglia family. In 1598, Montemaggiore became a "Marchesato" (Marquisate) by the concession of King Philip II of Spain in favor of Mariano Migliaccio Ventimiglia. In 1851, the town was partially wiped out by a landslide.
During the 17th century, Montemaggiore was a center of some importance with a Benedictine monastery and at least three churches. The process of growth of the town was already underway since its vast and fertile territory was an attraction for the farming population of the nearby Madonie centers.
The urbanization of Montemaggiore Belsito
During the 17th century, Montemaggiore Belsito had 185 houses and 964 inhabitants, and by 1652 there were 303 houses and 1,260 inhabitants. The process of territorial urbanization of Sicily took place between the 16th and 18th centuries, as the vast and fertile territory of Montemaggiore attracted the farming population of the nearby Madonie centers.
In the 19th century, the "casa terrana" was widespread, with a very simple conception (one-room) in which all functions of living are combined (the quintessential housing for the poor). The idea of housing as a representation of a social status only emerged in the 18th century, but even then it remained significantly marginal in Montemaggiore Belsito.
The only elements that emerge from the urban fabric are the churches, the palace of the Prince of Baucina, and the Saeli palace, the latter built in the early 20th century. After the unification of Italy, the term Belsito was added to the original name of Montemaggiore.
Conclusions
In summary, Montemaggiore Belsito is an Italian municipality with a population of 2979, located in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, in Sicily. The town was settled since the 12th century and was once under the rule of the Byzantines and the Saracens.
In the second half of the 13th century, Montemaggiore was repopulated by mountain farmers from the Madonie region after a gradual depopulation followed the abandonment of a Cluniac monastery that was located there. By the 19th century, during the territorial urbanization process of Sicily, Montemaggiore was a center of some importance with a Benedictine monastery and at least three churches.
Montemaggiore Belsito was hit by a landslide in 1851, but it still developed from the 16th century onwards thanks to its vast and fertile territory, which attracted the farming population of the nearby Madonie centers. Today, the only noteworthy elements that emerge from the urban fabric are the churches, the palace of the Prince of Baucina, and the Saeli palace, the latter built in the early 20th century.
