Mellili and Floridia are very close. My daughter stayed in FLoridia a few days and said she used to walk to Mellili to see relatives.
Several years ago I met with Joesph Amenta from Middletown
when he was visiting Maryland where I lived. He was about late 60 or 70 at the time. We compared notes and some research later, I came to the conclusion that we were probably 3rd cousins. I think all the Amenta's you met were relatives but they do not know it. Probably any two Amenta's on earth are no more than 6th or 7th cousins. It becomes a question of what one considers a relative. Customerily for marriage purpose the Catholic church considered anyone further distant than 3rd cousin as not being a relative.
The name Amenta seems to be of Greek origin. Lots of the Syracusa area was inhabited by Greeks for a long long time.
Sicily was called Magna Grecia (Big Greece). Sicily became part of Italy in around 1834.
Because of naming traditions, first born in named after its fathers father, second born after the mothers parents, and third born named after its father.
Hence I (third born) named after my father Gaetano/Tomaso.
Common names in our family are Gaetano, Giuseppe, Paolo.
Also Saint Sebastion was the name of the Catholic church in Mellili. So lots of Sebastions in our family.
Lots of background - we should compare notes.
Thanks for the response. Happy mothers day.
-Tom Amenta