Mandanici


Mandanici is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about east of Palermo and about southwest of Messina.
Mandanici borders the municipalities of Fiumedinisi, Nizza di Sicilia, Pagliara, Roccalumera, and Santa Lucia del Mela.

History

Mandanici, a small centre in the Province of Messina, was founded in a broad valley on the slopes of Pizzo Luci at the foot of the Peloritani. Its origin is uncertain, but it is claimed that it was founded by Greek colonists during the Chalkidean migration. More secure evidence exists from the period of Norman rule, as it was recorded in the royal historian Don Rocco Pirri's Sicilia Sacra. Even today, Mandanici's historical cultural importance is attested by the duomo, with its frescoes and amazing wooden roof and terracotta columns from local sources; by the remains of the abbey of San Basilio, which was erected at the impetus of Roger II to be a centre of international study, gatherings and religion; and by the works of art like the canvas and plaster crucifix from 1600 in the church of SS. Trinità la Madonna del Cesto, the paintings of Subba, and the Norman churches.
Another monument of historical value is the church of SS. Salvatore from the seventeenth century, which has been restored and designated a Museo Etnocintropologico. The local library is full of books on medicine, history, and theology from the sixteenth century.

Economy

In addition to pastoralism and agriculture in general, the local economy is involved in the production of high quality olive oil. The oil of the Mandanici has achieved recognition as a product of excellence due to its high percentage of oleic acid and low overall acidity. It has been recognised by the University of Bari as among the best in Italy because in addition to its taste, it contains a great deal of monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, and large amounts of vitamins. Solvents are not used during the pressing process, so it is an entirely organic product.
The Mandanicese kitchen offers the typical dishes based on chicken cooked on the grill in a wood-fired oven. Mandanicese macaroni, made by hand and prepared with tomato, eggplant and local antipastos, is famous and is served to tourists in the local restaurants.

Geography

Mandanici is located ten kilometres from the rail line for Roccalumera and from the SS 114, whence it is accessed by the Roccalumera-Mandanici local trains. It lies on the slopes of the Peloritani at the centre of an arc from Monte Scuderi that includes the summit of Mualio at an altitude of 417 metres.

Demographic evolution


Colors=
id:lightgrey value:gray
id:darkgrey value:gray
id:sfondo value:rgb
id:barra value:rgb
ImageSize = width:455 height:303
PlotArea = left:50 bottom:50 top:30 right:30
DateFormat = x.y
Period = from:0 till:2000
TimeAxis = orientation:vertical
AlignBars = justify
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:1000 start:0
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:200 start:0
BackgroundColors = canvas:sfondo
BarData=
bar:1861 text:1861
bar:1871 text:1871
bar:1881 text:1881
bar:1901 text:1901
bar:1911 text:1911
bar:1921 text:1921
bar:1931 text:1931
bar:1936 text:1936
bar:1951 text:1951
bar:1961 text:1961
bar:1971 text:1971
bar:1981 text:1981
bar:1991 text:1991
bar:2001 text:2001
PlotData=
color:barra width:20 align:left
bar:1861 from: 0 till:1048
bar:1871 from: 0 till:1083
bar:1881 from: 0 till:1062
bar:1901 from: 0 till:1258
bar:1911 from: 0 till:1273
bar:1921 from: 0 till:1439
bar:1931 from: 0 till:1429
bar:1936 from: 0 till:1417
bar:1951 from: 0 till:1339
bar:1961 from: 0 till:1188
bar:1971 from: 0 till:1040
bar:1981 from: 0 till:932
bar:1991 from: 0 till:843
bar:2001 from: 0 till:761
PlotData=
bar:1861 at:1048 fontsize:XS text: 1048 shift:
bar:1871 at:1083 fontsize:XS text: 1083 shift:
bar:1881 at:1062 fontsize:XS text: 1062 shift:
bar:1901 at:1258 fontsize:XS text: 1258 shift:
bar:1911 at:1273 fontsize:XS text: 1273 shift:
bar:1921 at:1439 fontsize:XS text: 1439 shift:
bar:1931 at:1429 fontsize:XS text: 1429 shift:
bar:1936 at:1417 fontsize:XS text: 1417 shift:
bar:1951 at:1339 fontsize:XS text: 1339 shift:
bar:1961 at:1188 fontsize:XS text: 1188 shift:
bar:1971 at:1040 fontsize:XS text: 1040 shift:
bar:1981 at:932 fontsize:XS text: 932 shift:
bar:1991 at:843 fontsize:XS text: 843 shift:
bar:2001 at:761 fontsize:XS text: 761 shift:
TextData=
fontsize:S pos:
text:Data from ISTAT

People