Mileto

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Mileto

Country	Italy
Region	Calabria
Province	Province of Vibo Valentia (VV)
Mayor

Elevation	365 m
Area	34.9 km²
Population
- Total (as of Dec. 2004)	7,082
- Density	203/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	38°37′N 16°4′E
Gentilic	miletesi
Dialing code	0963
Postal code	89852
Frazioni	Comparni, Paravati, San Giovanni


Location of Mileto in Italy

Mileto is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Vibo Valentia in the Italian region Calabria, located about 60 km southwest of Catanzaro and about 6 km south of Vibo Valentia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 7,082 and an area of 34.9 km².^[1]

The municipality of Mileto contains the frazioni (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Comparni, Paravati, and San Giovanni.

Mileto borders the following municipalities: Candidoni, Dinami, Filandari, Francica, Gerocarne, Jonadi, San Calogero, San Costantino Calabro, Serrata.

Mileto is an episcopal see.

[edit] History

According to tradition, the city was founded, not far from the site of the ancient Medama by fugitives from Miletus (Miletos in Greek; hence the name) in Asia Minor, destroyed by Darius.

Mileto was made an episcopal see by Gregory VII in 1073. The earthquake of 1783 destroyed the cathedral, built by Count Roger, who also built the monastery of the Most Holy Trinity and St. Michael for Greek Basilian monks. Callistus II (pope 1119-1124) united this diocese with those of Tauriana and Vibona, the latter destroyed by the Saracens.

The first bishop was Arnolfo; after him were Godfrey (1094), under whom the see became immediately subject to Rome (exempt); Cardinal Corrado Caracciolo (1402); Cardinal Astorgio Agnensi (1411); Antonio Sorbilli (1435), who founded the seminary in 1440; Felice Centini (1611), afterwards a cardinal; Gregorio Ponziani (1640), charged with a mission to England by Urban VIII.

It suffered much from earthquakes, especially from those of 1905 and 1906, and, although in a less degree, from that of 28 December, 1908, which destroyed Reggio and Messina. The incumbent since 1898, Mgr. Morabito, was a charitable father to the sufferers from the recent earthquakes. The diocese then had 124 parishes, containing 220,000 souls; 2 convents of men and 12 houses of nuns, 2 schools for boys and 7 for girls.