Province of Matera
Province of Matera | ||
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The province of Matera (
The history of settlement in the region dates back to the Palaeolithic Period and the first instance of organised settlement was in 251 BCE, when Roman Republic consul Lucius Caecilius Metellus founded the town as Matera.[3] Matera was sacked multiple times; initially by the Franks, then by Roman Emperor Louis II of Italy, and then by invading Muslims during the 10th century. Following this, the town was owned by the Capetian House of Anjou and the Crown of Aragon and was sold multiple times to successive wealthy families.[3]
Giovanni Carlo Tramontano, Count of Matera was briefly leader of the city but was despised by the residents, who saw him as tyrannical and rebelled against him, murdering Tramontano on 29 December 1514.[3] The city Matera was announced to be the capital of ancient district Lucania (Basilicata) in 1663; this status was removed from the city in 1806 and 1860. Under the Fascist rule of Italy, the title of Matera serving as the capital of Basilicata was restored in 1927.[3] The province is known for its history of "cave dwellings" known as sassi.[3]
Comuni
The main comuni (municipalities) by population are (as of January 2018):
| Commune | Population |
|---|---|
Matera
|
60,432 |
| Policoro | 17,694 |
| Pisticci | 17,602 |
| Bernalda | 12,453 |
| Montescaglioso | 9,877 |
Montescaglioso hosts the territorial abbacy of Saint Michael the Archangel, which belongs to the Benedictines.
References
- ^ Regions and Cities > Regional Statistics > Regional Economy > Regional Gross Domestic Product (Small regions TL3), OECD.Stats. Accessed on 16 November 2018.
- ^ "Province of Matera". Comuni-Italiani. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-313-30733-1.
External links
- Official website (in Italian)
- Documentary Film about the Sassi di Matera, Roba Forestiera, 44 min., 2004
- Sassi di Matera PHOTO TOUR
40°40′N 16°36′E / 40.667°N 16.600°E
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