Besidiae: (mod. Bisignano [CS]). A town in ancient Bruttium, situated on the river Crathis. The name appears to derive from a pre-Oscan word meaning “sand” or “ash” and related to the Indo-European root *bhes- (= to smear, spread). This usually refers to a place having sandy soil.
Biancavilla (CT): A commune in the province of Catania. Population: 23,378 (2006e).
Bianchi (CS): A commune in the province of Cosenza. Population: (2006e).
Bianco (RC): A commune in the province of Reggio Calabria.
Bianco, James: (fl.c1303). Navigator. He was an Italian pirate active in Mediterranean against the Venetians.
Bicarus: Ancient name for the modern city of Vicari, Sicily.
Biccari (FG): A commune in the province of Foggia. Population: 2,999 (2006e).
Bidera, Giovanni Emanuele: (b. 1784, Palazzo Adriano [PA]). Librettist.
Bidis (Beidis, Beido): A small town in ancient Sicily located to the SW of Syracuse, near the source of the river Anapus. It is identified with modern Vizzini.
bifora>: See pifara.
Binetto (BA): A commune in the province of Bari. Population: 2,041 (2007e); 2,007 (2006e).
Bion: An ancient Bucolic poet (fl. c280 BC). A native of Smyrna, he settled in Sicily. He was the teacher of Moschus.
Birgi: (anc. Acithius). This Sicilian town was the site, on Dec. 1, 1299, was the site of a victory by King Frederick II of Sicily over French Angevins, taking Philip of Anjou prisoner.
Bisaccia> (AV): A commune in the province of Avellino. Population: 4,114 (2007e); 4,148 (2006e).
Bisacquino (Sic. Busacchinu)(PA): A commune in the province of Palermo, known as Busekuin in Saracen times. It is a site for agate and jasper.
Bisceglie (BA): A commune in the province of Bari (Barletta-Andria-Trani). Area: 68.48 km². Population: 53,841 (2007e); 53,630 (2006e); 51,718 (2001); 47,408 (1991); 46,538 (1981).
Bisegna (AQ): A commune in the province of L‘Aquila. Population: 345 (2006e).
Bisenti (TE): A commune in the province of Teramo.
Bishop: The ecclesiastical leader of a diocese. Typically, the powers and responsibilities of a bishop are focused on his own jurisdiction and he possesses little authority beyond its boundaries.
Bishop Emeritus: A bishop who has retired from the leadership of a diocese. Canon law requires that, upon reaching the age of 75, a bishop must tender his resignation. The Pope makes the final decision on whether to accept this resignation of not. Some bishops are granted earlier retirements for reasons such as ill-health.
Bisignano (CS): A commune in the province of Cosenza. Population: 10,472 (2006e).
Bissuccio, Leonardo di: (fl. 1st part of the 15th century). Painter. His only surviving work is the paintings in the 1433 monumental chapel of Sergianni Caracciolo in the church of S. Giovanni a Carbonara, at Naples. One of the paintings shows Caracciolo naked, and may have been inspired by the state in which his body was found after being murdered. Other paintings in the chapel depict scenes from the “Life of the Virgin” and images of other members of the Caracciolo family.
Bitetto >(BA): A commune in the province of Bari. Population: 10,947 (2007e); 10,632 (2006e).
Bitonto (BA): A commune in the province of Bari, near the Adriatic coast. Area: 172.82 km². Population: 56,174 (2007e); 56,277 (2006e); 56,929 (2001); 53,772 (1991); 49,714 (1981). It produces a notable wine.
Bitritto (BA): A commune in the province of Bari. Population: 10,457 (2007e); 10,406 (2006e).
Bivona (anc. Hipponia) (AG): A commune in the province of Agrigento. Population: 4,091 (2007e); 4,086 (2006e).
History: A Sicilian town founded by Gelon, tyrant of Syracuse, in commemoration of his victory over the Carthaginians at Himera (480 BC). The town came to be called Bisbona because its farms produced two crops of every kind twice each year. It was also known for a spring whose waters are said to have curative powers. The area around the town is abundant in agates, jaspers, and other semiprecious stones.
Bivongi (RC): A commune in the province of Reggio Calabria.
Blanda (1): (mod. Maratea). A town in ancient Lucania, situated on the Via Aquila, to the S of Scidrus.