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Cerami Cirami (Sicilian) | |
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| Comune di Cerami | |
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 Coat of arms | |
  Cerami Location of Cerami in Italy Show map of Italy Cerami Cerami (Sicily) Show map of Sicily | |
| Coordinates:37°49′N14°30′E / 37.817°N 14.500°E /37.817; 14.500 | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Province | Enna (EN) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Silvestro Chiovetta |
| Area | |
• Total | 94 km2 (36 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 970 m (3,180 ft) |
| Population (30 November 2017)[2] | |
• Total | 1,968 |
| • Density | 21/km2 (54/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Ceramesi |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 94010 |
| Dialing code | 0935 |
| Patron saint | Saint Sebastian |
| Website | Official website |
Cerami (Sicilian:Cirami) is acomune inSicily, southernItaly, part of theProvince of Enna. The town itself is perched on a mountaintop 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level. A river also namedCerami flows through this area.
Cerami produces cereals, olives, grapes, and almonds. It also is known for cattle breeding and sheep herding. It holds a Cattle Fair during the month of August.
Cerami was founded by the Greeks as part ofMagna Graecia in the fourth century BC. The name Cerami derives from the Greek termKeràmion, that meansterracotta. The territory hosts several archeological areas, such as the Raffo district where remains of a Greek necropolis were discovered.
A hilltop town, Cerami was the location ofa major battle betweenNormans and Muslims in 1063, during the Norman conquest of the Island byRoger I of Sicily son ofTancred of Hauteville. According to historianGoffredo Malaterra, after being besieged in the neighboring town ofTroina for four months, Roger and 136 ferocious Norman knights took to the field of Cerami and faced approximately 50,000 Muslim soldiers. The apparition of St. George was said to have materialized on a white horse carrying the sign of the cross on his lance and charging into the enemy where their array was the most dense. Malaterra claims the Normans slaughtered 35,000 of the enemy.[3] According to English historianEdward Gibbon, even accounting for 5 or 6 men at arms accompanying each Norman knight into battle, and even accounting for the Normans' superior martial training, the victory was either miraculous or fabulous.[4] A similar trope is associated with the miraculous appearance of St James the Moorslayer (Santiago Matamoros) during the putativeBattle of Clavijo in Spain. Nevertheless, the Normans went on to capture the island.
The current community rose approximately in the 11th century, and it belonged to the Count of Policastro, Simone d'Altavilla, and then to his son Manfredi. It was conquered by the Arnaldo family, and was subsequently bestowed to the Antiochia family, thus to the Manna noblemen. In 1336, the town was acquired by noblemen Rosso, who beheld it until the abolition of the feudal rights.
During the Second World War, the hamlet briefly served as headquarters for theU.S. 1st Infantry Division as it prepared to assault German strongpoints located north and south ofTroina.
The most important landmarks are:
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