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tarantella

(Encyclopedia)tarantella târˈəntĕlˈə [key], Neapolitan folk dance that first appeared in Taranto, Italy, in the 17th cent. It had rapid 6–8 meter with an increasing tempo and was thought to cure the bite of...

cinnabar

(Encyclopedia)cinnabar sĭnˈəbär [key], mineral, the sulfide of mercury, HgS. Deep red in color, it is used as a pigment (see vermilion), but principally it is a source of the metal mercury. It is mined in Spain...

Civitavecchia

(Encyclopedia)Civitavecchia chēˈvētä-vĕkˈkēä [key], city, in Latium, W central Italy, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The ...

Clipperton Island

(Encyclopedia)Clipperton Island, uninhabited atoll, c.2 sq mi (5.2 sq km), in the Pacific Ocean, c.800 mi (1,290 km) SW of Mexico. It was used as a base by John Clipperton, an English pirate. The French claimed it ...

Genovesi, Antonio

(Encyclopedia)Genovesi, Antonio äntôˈnyō jānōvĕˈzē [key], 1712–69, Italian philosopher and economist, a pioneer in writing philosophy in Italian instead of in Latin. Genovesi introduced new ideas, partic...

faience

(Encyclopedia)faience fāĕnsˈ, –änsˈ, fī– [key] [for Faenza, Italy], any of several kinds of pottery, especially earthenware made of coarse clay and covered with an opaque tin-oxide glaze. The term is part...

Trasimeno

(Encyclopedia)Trasimeno träzēmāˈnō [key], Lat. Trasimenus, lake, c.50 sq mi (130 sq km), in Umbria, central Italy, W of Perugia. It is also called Lake of Perugia. The shallow circular lake (max. depth 19 ft/6...

Veii

(Encyclopedia)Veii vēˈī [key], ancient city of Etruria, 11 mi (18 km) NW of Rome, Italy. One of the most powerful member cities of the Etruscan League, it was constantly at war with Rome. It fell (c.396 b.c.) to...

Puteoli

(Encyclopedia)Puteoli pyo͞otēˈəlī [key], ancient city of Campania, S Italy, 8 mi (13 km) W of Naples. Founded c.520 b.c. by Samian Greeks from Cumae, it came under Roman control by the end of the 4th cent. b.c...

Gatti-Casazza, Giulio

(Encyclopedia)Gatti-Casazza, Giulio jo͞oˈlyō gätˈtē-käzätˈsä [key], 1869–1940, Italian operatic manager. In 1893 he succeeded his father as director of the municipal theater at Ferrara. After directing ...