small military base near Lago, in modern Aiello Calabro. Combined, these mechanisms “romanized” the population. Middle Ages What was likely a small settlement of Romano-Bretti stock existed through the Dark Ages and was not augmented significantly until 1088 A.D. In that year, the Saracens sacked the city of Cosenza, driving the inhabitants into the mountainous interior. The small hamlets around Cosenza saw a population explosion. It is near this date that Lago is first mentioned in copious documents, as the Latin "Lacum." It is likely that the population was further augmented by lowlanders, who understood that mosquitoes do not breed above a certain elevation, as it was also during this time that the low-lying parts of Southern Italy had serious problems with malaria. In the early Middle Ages, Lago was located in what was likely a border region. The nearby towns, bearing names like Longobardi and Tarifa, likely indicate that the border between Lombard domains and Byzantine territory ran through Lago territory. Politically, Lago was a domain of the House of Cybo-Malaspina for much of its feudal history. During the late Renaissance, several churches in Lago were built, some of which are still standing. The church, “Madonna of the Mountains,” built in 1652, is renowned for its architecture and art. Similar to the rest of Cosenza and Catanzaro, Lago was a center of world silk production during the Middle Ages. In the 1753 census of Lago commissioned by the Kingdom of Naples, wealth was counted primarily by how many mulberry trees one owned. Origin of the Name Lago, of course, means “lake” in Italian, but there is currently no lake there. However, the Licetto (“Eliceto,” “Acero”) River turns sharply at the edge of town and has a history of silting up. Lago was likely named after a bulge in the river, much like Lake Havasu, which is not a lake, but a bulge in the Colorado River. The historian Don Cupelli believes that any other theories on the origin of the name are mythical. Cuisine The cuisine of Lago is typical of Southern Italy. Its desserts ("turdilli") and salumi are renowned around the region. Wine production is healthy and varied, with the Magliocco Dolce grape most widely cultivated. Notables Astronaut Mario Runco Jr. is a first-generation American of Laghitan heritage. References External links Association of Descendants of Lago, Worldwide Municipal Website History of Lago with sources Cities and towns in