Bishops of Acireale
Gerlando Maria Genuardi 1872 – 1907
Giovanni Battista Arista 1907 – 1920
Salvatore Bella 1921 – 1922
Fernando Cento 1922 – 1926
Evasio Colli 1927 – 1932
Salvatore Russo 1932 – 1964
Pasquale Bacile 1964 – 1979
Giuseppe Malandrino 1979 – 1998
Salvatore Gristina 1999- 2002
Pio Vittorio Vigo 2002 –
Aciris, River: A river in ancient Lucania which rose to the NW of Abellinum Marsicum, and empties into the bay of Taranto (Tarentinus sinus) at Agri.
Acis (Grk. Akis): A mythological shepherd of Sicily. According to the myth, Acis was a young and handsome shepherd who tended his flocks in E. Sicily. Although a mortal himself, he was the son of the nature-god Pan-Faunus and the Naiad nymph Symaethis. He met and fell in love with the sea-nymph Galatea, thus incurring the jealousy of the Cyclops Polyphemus, a spurned suitor of Galatea. In a fit of rage, the eye-eyed giant tore a great stone from Mt. Etna and crushed the helpless Acis beneath it. When Galatea prayed for the gods to show mercy to her dead lover, Acis was transformed into a river-god. As his blood flowed from beneath the rock, it miraculously transformed into the stream of water that came to bear his name. The river named for him rose on Aitna near Akion (Acium) and flowed into the Mediterranean.
Acis (or Acinius) (mod. Iaci), River: Ancient river in eastern Sicily. Rising on the slopes of Mt. Aetna, it flows along the foot of that mountain, past Akion (Acium), before emptying into the Sicilian Sea at Acis, at a point between the river Acesinus and Adrix, to the north of Catana. It is named for the mythical youth, Acis, the victim of the Cyclops Polyphemus.
Acis (mod. Castel d’Iaci): An ancient town in eastern Sicily located near the mouth of the river Acis.
Acithis (Acithius, Atys) (mod. Carabi), River: A river in ancient Sicily, located in the W part of the island. It falls into the Africum pelagus, to the N of the Lilybaeum promontory.
Acithius: Ancient name for Birgi, in Sicily.
Acium: an ancient town located in eastern Sicily. Nothing is known of its history but it was known to have been situated on the road between Catana (mod. Catania) and Tauromenium (mod. Taormina), near the small river Acis. It is identified as the modern Acireale (CT).
Acontist: a javelin thrower.
Acqua Alte, Canale: A canal in northern Puglia (province of Foggia). Beginning near Casa Lauro sul Lago di Lésina, it runs for a length of 10 km, emptying into the Adriatic Sea near Torre Mileto.
Acquabella, Punta di (CH): A promontory on the Adriatic coast of the Abruzzo (province of Chieti). It lays S. of Ortona and N. of the mouth of the river Moro. It is sometimes known as the Punta del Moro.
Acqua Bianca, Fosso (MT): A waterway of Basilicata (length: 10 km). It rises at a point (564 m) near Garaguso (MT) and flows from the left into the Torrent Salandrella at Masseria Molino (MT).
Acqua Calda, Torrente: A waterway (length: 8 km) of Campania. Rising on Monte Mutria (1822 m), it flows into the torrente Titerno near Civitella Licinia.
Acqua del Lupo, Fosso (MT): A watercourse of Basilicata (length: 11 km). Beginning at Serra di Gianni (521 m), it flows from the left into the river Bràdano at Masseria Zecchiniello (MT).
Acquacorsari: A small center in Sicily near the city of Palermo. Its name derives from its origins as the site of a watch tower built to guard against Saracen pirates (corsairs).
Acquaformosa (CS): A commune of Calabria, in the province of Cosenza.
Former Names (if any): (Arberesh. Firmoza, Formoza)
Region: Calabria │ Province: Cosenza.
Coordinates: Lat. 39°43’26″N/Long. 16°5’26″E.
Location/Setting: Located 71 km N of Cosenza, it is situated on the slopes of the Cozzo del Lepre, in the Mula range of mountains, in the basin of the river Esauro, on the road between Castrovillari and Belvedere Marittimo. Much of the territory is covered by vast woods and meadows. Part of the Comunità Montana del Pollino. Part of the Regione Agraria n. 2 – Versante Nord/Est della catena costiera. Part of the Parco Nazionale del Pollino.
Alt.: 756 m.
Area: 22.57 km².
Population: 1,247 (2006e)
Pop. Density: /km².
Frazioni & Localities:
CAP: 87010
Tel. Prefix: 0981
Name of Inhabitants: Acquaformositani.
Patron Saint(s): S. Giovanni Battista. Feast Day: August 24.
Economy: The commune has an abundance of copper and mercury deposits that have not been exploited.
History: The town probably received its name from the Cistercian monastery church of Santa Maria di Acquaformosa, built on the site in 1195 or 1197 by the Brahalla family of nearby Altomonte. A popular legend, however, disputes this, claiming that the town was given its name by an Albanian princess. While Irene Castriota, princess of Bisignano and the daughter of Skanderberg, was visiting the place accepted a drink from the water at the abbey (then known as Ariosa). Her exclamation of “Che acqua Formosa” (“What wonderful water”) was said to have inspired the new name. Whatever the truth, the monastic complex soon became the center for a small community of houses.
In 1501, the monastery granted land to a group of 20 Albanian families to establish a center called Firmoza. In return for this gift the settlers agreed to pay the monastery an annual rent based on population, numbers of dwellings, and amount of livestock.
Major earthquakes struck in 1887, 1905, and 1908.