Ferdinando: (fl. 1st part of the 11th Century). Ecclesiastic. Bishop of Caiazzo. He succeeded Stefano in AD 1025.
Ferla (SR): A commune in the province of Siracusa.
Feroleto Antico (CZ): A commune in the province of Catanzaro. Population: 2,088 (2006e).
Feroleto della Chiesa (RC): A commune in the province of Reggio Calabria.
Feronia: an ancient Italic goddess. In Etruscan religion she was a goddess of fire and fertility, while the Romans saw her as a deity presiding over springs and woods.
Ferrandina (MT): A commune in the province of Matera. Population: 9,279 (2006e).
Ferrante I: See Ferdinand I.
Ferrara, Francesco: (b. 1811, Palermo. d. 1900, Venice). Economist. In 1834, he became the head of the Statistical Bureau of Sicily, and was the founder of the Giornale di Statistica. In 1847, he was involved in the Sicilian independence movement and was imprisoned by the authorities. When Sicily revolted in the following year, he was freed and chosen as a special envoy to Turin. While there he accepted an offer to assune the chair of economics at the University of Turin. He later held a similar post at the University of Pisa. In 1867, he was appointed Minister of Finance. In 1868, he became director of a mercantile school in Venice, where he remained until his death in 1900. His written works included Importanza dell’Economia Politica (1849) and Memorie di Statistica (1890).
Ferrara, Franco: (b. 4 July, 1911, Palermo. d. 7 Sept. 1985, Florence). Violinist, pianist, composer. He served as Concertmaster at many of Italy’s great orchestras. A child prodigy, he began his professional career at the age of 9. At the age of 13 he became Concertmaster of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. He was Concertmaster of the Augusteo Orchestra (Rome) under the baton of Bruno Walter, Toscanini, Guarnieri (his mentor), and De Sabata. In the course of his life he also served as a teacher of Composition at several schools and academies (Accademia Chigiana of Siena; Radio Hilversum Holland; Paris Conservatoire; Berkshire Music Centre Tanglewood; Julliard School New York; Accademia S. Cecilia Roma). His compositions include many orchestral pieces and much music for films and television.
Ferrazzano (CB): A commune in the province of Campobasso. Population: 3,282 (2006e).
Ferruzzano (RC): A commune in the province of Reggio Calabria.
Fesro: Bishop of Capua (rAD590-594).
Festus: (fl. late AD 6th / early 7th centuries BC). Ecclesiastic. Bishop of Capua. He wrote to Pope Gregory I the Great complaining that he was despised by both the clergy and the citizens of Capua. In a letter from that same pope, Festus is ordered to pay restitution to a subdeacon from whom he had taken money.
Ficarazzi (PA): A commune in the province of Palermo.
Ficarra (ME): A commune in the province of Messina. Population: 1,724 (2006e).
Figline Vegliaturo >(CS): A commune in the province of Cosenza. Population: 1,048 (2006e).
Filadelfia (VV): A commune in the province of Vibo Valentia.
Filandari (VV): A commune in the province of Vibo Valentia.
Filangieri, Carlo: (b. 1783, in Naples; d. 1867). Neapolitan general and minister. Prince of Satriano. He was the son of Gaetano Filangieri (1752-1788). A protégé of Napoleon Bonaparte, he received a fine military education in Paris before entering the French army. He fought against the Austrians at the battle of Austerlitz and then served in the Neapolitan army under Murat. In 1815, he displayed great bravery and ability in 1815 in action against the Tyrolese. He was severely wounded but received a promotion to general. In 1848, he was in the service of Ferdinand I, commanding the Bourbon forces at Messina and crushing the revolution on the island. He was then appointed governor-general of the island with unlimited powers. In June, 1859, the new king, Francis II, appointed him prime minister and minister of foreign affairs. In 1860, Francis II unsuccessfully attempted to convince to crush the Sicilian uprising as he had done for his father.
Filangieri, Gaetano: b. Aug. 18, 1752, in Naples; d. July 21, 1788. Publicist. Entering the royal service in 1777, he held a number of different offices and, in 1787, he became part of the supreme council of finance. He published a number of works, the most important being Scienza della legislazione. He died at a young age, apparently from over-work. He was the father of Carlo Filangieri (b. 1783).