PhD Program in Historical studies
The Feasts of Moors and Christians in Southern Italy
In the case of Italy, whose continental regions have suffered temporary incursions and raids by the Muslims, the defense from marauders was almost always invariably attributed to the miraculous intervention of the Virgin Mary or a saint (usually they were called “Turks” hence the proverbial exclamation Mamma li Turchi!, Mother the Turks!). The most important Italian festivals are held in Abruzzo (Tollo and Villamagna), Apulia (Fasano), Basilicata (Potenza and Matera) and Sicily (Scicli). These festivities refer to events which were largely embellished and sometimes invented, which are presented as advances or scaled-down replicas of the epic battle that took place in 1571 at LepantoWas a naval battle that took place on 7 October, 1571 and that pitted the Holy League (Spanish Monarchy, the Duchy of Savoy, the Papacy and the Republics of Venice and Genoa) against the Ottoman Empire. The victory put a stop to Ottoman expansion in the Christian West. between the fleet of the Holy League and the Ottoman imperial fleet. The staging often revolves around the loss and recapture of a fortress and ends with the defeat and with the conversion of the Moors.