Maida, Calabria

Maida (Greek: Maede, Medeia) is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The British routed the French in the Battle of Maida in 1806, as part of the War of the Third Coalition.

Maida is 16 km south of Lamezia Terme and 31 km west of the provincial capital Catanzaro.

History

On 4 July 1806 the British under John Stuart defeated the French under Jean Reynier outside the town. A London pub was named The Hero of Maida, which in turn gave its name to adjoining districts of London, Maida Vale and Maida Hill. King Ferdinand IV of Naples and Sicily awarded Stuart the title of Count of Maida.

Famous citizens

• Mgr Giovanni Cervadoro, the Carbonaro and teacher, was born in Maida in 1783 and died in 1836,wote School Stabilimenti for his students in 1829.
• Baldassarre Squitti, the teacher and politician, was born in Maida in 1855.
• The American writer Gay Talese wrote about his ancestors from Maida in 1992's Unto the Sons.

Economy

The main economic activity in the area is agriculture, especially the cultivation of olive trees, citrus, and kiwifruit. In recent years, tourism has become a significant source of income for the town.

External links

• Photos of Maida at Saint Francis Society of Ambler (Pennsylvania, USA)