Acerra

For other uses, see Acerra (disambiguation).
Acerra
Comune
Metropolitan City of Naples

Aerial photo of Acerra
Acerra

Location of Acerra in Italy

Coordinates: 40°57′N 14°22′E / 40.950°N 14.367°ECoordinates: 40°57′N 14°22′E / 40.950°N 14.367°E
Country Italy
Region Campania
Frazioni Gaudello, Pezzalunga
Government
  Mayor Raffaele Lettieri (UdC)
Area
  Total 54.08 km2 (20.88 sq mi)
Elevation 26 m (85 ft)
Population (1 April 2009)
  Total 55,003
  Density 1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Demonym Acerrani
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 80011
Dialing code 081
Patron saint St. Cuono and Conello
Saint day 29 May
Website Official website

Acerra is a town and comune of Campania, southern Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Naples, about 15 kilometres (9 miles) northeast of the capital in Naples. It is part of the Agro Acerrano plain.

History

Acerra is one of the most ancient cities of the region, probably founded by the Osci with the name of Akeru (Latin: Acerrae). It was the first Roman city that was granted the status of civitas sine suffragio (332 BC).

Acerra was destroyed by Hannibal in 216 BC, but was restored in 210 BC.

Acerra served as a Roman base during the Social War in 90 BC.[1]

In 826 the Lombards built here a castle, later destroyed by Bono of Naples. In 881 it was sacked by the Saracens. Later it was a Norman possession, the seat of a county. As part of the Kingdom of Naples, it was a fief of the Aquino, the Origlia, the Orsini del Balzo and, from 1496 until 1812, the Cardenas. From 1927 it was part of the province of Terra di Lavoro.

Main sights

References

  1. Canby, Courtlandt. The Encyclopedia of Historic Places. (New York: Facts of File Publicantions, 1984) p. 6

External links