Nicotera

For the Italian politician, see Giovanni Nicotera.
Nicotera
Comune
Comune di Nicotera

Coat of arms
Nicotera

Location of Nicotera in Italy

Coordinates: 38°33′N 15°56′E / 38.550°N 15.933°E
Country Italy
Region Calabria
Province Vibo Valentia (VV)
Frazioni Comèrconi, Marina, Preìtoni, Badia di Nicotera
Government
  Mayor Francesco Pagano
Area
  Total 32 km2 (12 sq mi)
Elevation 220 m (720 ft)
Population (2007)
  Total 6,487
  Density 200/km2 (530/sq mi)
Demonym Nicoteresi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 89844
Dialing code 0963
Patron saint Saint Joseph; Assumption of Mary
Saint day 21 March; 15 August
Website Official website

Nicotera (Greek: Nikoptera, Medma) is a comune (municipality) in the province of Vibo Valentia, Calabria, southern Italy.

History

Nicòtera origins lie with the ancient Greek city of Medma which was founded by the Locresis of Locri Epizephyris.

During the period of Roman domination it partially survived only through the emporium (port), near today’s Nicotera Marina. A Christian bishopric see is attested in Nicotera during the Middle Ages.[1]

View of the upper town with the castle on the left.

In 1065 Robert Guiscard conquered it from the Byzantine Empire, and the town grew around the castle and the cathedral built under the Normans.

Under Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II Nicotera attained economic wealth. To encourage commerce and industry, Frederick promoted Jewish settlement in the area called "Giudecca", in which Jews of this ghetto inhabited the area near the castle, enjoy protection from Christian persecution by the Bishop of Nicotera.

In the 15th century, under the rule of Alfonso of Aragon, it passed under the yoke of feudalism and it decayed. In 1806 the French Revolution swept away the feudal system in Nicotera. After the restoration of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, Nicotera continued to be chief town of the district, with what are now the modern communes of Joppolo and Limbadi as its dependencies.

Notes

External links

Media related to Nicotera at Wikimedia Commons