Bafile, Andrea: (Monticchio (AQ), 1878; d. Basso Piave, 1918). Naval officer and hero. As a lieutenant (Tenete di Vascello) aboard an Italian warship, he posthumously received the Gold Medal for military valor (Medaglia d’Oro) on March 12, 1918.
Bagaladi (RC): A commune in the province of Reggio Calabria.
Bagheria (Sic. Baharìa)(PA): A commune in the province of Palermo situated along the N coast of Sicily between Palermo and Messina. Area: 29.68 km². Population: 54,508 (2006e); 50,854 (2001); 47,085 (1991); 40,076 (1981). It served as the “court suburb” for Palermo, a place where members of the Bourbon royal court built beautiful holiday villas, which included splendid gardens, arabesque pavilions, and a view of the Lipari Islands.
baglio: A term applied to a great wine establishment. Several were located at Marsala on the W coast of Sicily, including the Baglio Ingham. The word, similar to the English “bailey”, derives from the Latin ballium (= a walled enclosure).
baglio Palmenti: Treading vats used in Sicily for crushing the wine grapes.
Bagnara Calabra (RG): A town in southern Calabria, situated on the Gulf of Gioja. Population: 11,230 (2001).
Bagnoli del Trigno (IS): A commune in the province of Isernia. Population: 835 (2006e).
Bagnoli Irpino (AV): A commune in the province of Avellino. Population: 3,327 (2007e); 3,341 (2006e).
Bagnolo del Salento (LE): A commune in the province of Lecce. Population: 1,867 (2006e).
Baia e Latina (CE): A commune in the province of Caserta. Population: 2,337 (2006e).
Baiae: (mod. Baia). An ancient town located on a small bay to the west of Neapolis (Naples). Situated opposite to Puteoli, it was noted for its beautiful scenery and its warm mineral springs. Under the Romans it developed into ancient Italy’s most famous health and pleasure resorts. Many of Rome’s wealthiest and more powerful citizens maintained seaside villas along the coast between Baiae and Puteoli. Much of the ancient site is now underwater due to changes in the coastline.
According to mythology, Baiae was named for Baius, a companion of Ulysses.
Baiano (AV): A commune in the province of Avellino. Population: 4,733 (2007e); 4,743 (2006e).
Balarum: A haven of ancient Bruttium, located near Scylla.
Balbo, Michele: (c. 1270). Navigator. An Italian pirate who operated in the Aegean Sea during the 2nd half of the 13th century.
baldachin (or ciborium; Ital. baldachino or baldacchino): A canopy over the high altar of a church. Very rare in the churches and cathedrals on Sicily, they are more common on the Italian mainland. The term comes an Old Italian term Baldacco (= Baghdad).
Baldini, Filippo: (fl. 2nd half of the 18th century). Physician. He served for some time as physician to the royal family. He was the author of several medical dissertations which were published as a collection entitled Saggi intorno alla Preservazione e Cura della Umana Salute (Essays around the Preservation and Care of Human Health) (publ. Naples, 1787).
Baldo, Antonio: (b. Cava de Tirreni (SA), 1688). Painter and engraver. A pupil of Solimena, he produced several works including historical pieces and portraits. Among the subjects of the latter were Emperor Charles VI, Don Carlos of Naples, and the physician Cyrillus.
Balestrate (Sic. Balistrati)(PA): A commune in the province of Palermo. A town in W Sicily which became known as the center of production for a large percentage of the grapes used to produce Marsala wine.
Baletium (Valetium): (mod. San Pietro Vernotico [BR]). A maritime town in ancient Calabria, situated between the river Pactius and Lupia.
Baletum, River: A river in Bruttium mentioned by Pliny the Elder. It’s identification is uncertain, but its name derives from the IE root *bhel(e) (= shining, white). In some Indo-European languages, the name means “swamp.” Some scholars suggest that the name is of Illyrian origin.
Balmes, Abraham de: (b. Lecce. d. Padua, 1523). Physician and professor. He was the author of Mikne Avaam (the Possession of Abraham) (Venice, 1523), a Hebrew grammar, and translated some of the philosophical commentaries of Averroes and others.