Castro derives its name from
Castrum Minervae (Latin for "Athena's castle"), which was an ancient town of the
Sallentini, about south of
Hydruntum. Its ancient temple of
Minerva was said to have been founded by
Idomeneus, who formed the tribe of the Sallentini from a mixture of
Cretans,
Illyrians and Italian
Locrians (Central Greek tribe). It is also said to have been the place where
Aeneas first landed in Italy, the port of which he named
Portus Veneris ("Port of Venus"). The temple had lost some of its importance in
Strabo's day.
Richard Sklba (1935–2024), auxiliary bishop of the
Archdiocese of Milwaukee, was the most recent incumbent. == References ==