San Demetrio Corone

San Demetrio Corone
Comune
Comune di San Demetrio Corone

Coat of arms
San Demetrio Corone

Location of San Demetrio Corone in Italy

Coordinates: 39°34′N 16°22′E / 39.567°N 16.367°ECoordinates: 39°34′N 16°22′E / 39.567°N 16.367°E
Country Italy
Region Calabria
Province Cosenza (CS)
Frazioni Soferetti, Macchia Albanese, Sant'Agata
Government
  Mayor Antonio Sposato
Area
  Total 57 km2 (22 sq mi)
Elevation 521 m (1,709 ft)
Population (2007)
  Total 3,748
  Density 66/km2 (170/sq mi)
Demonym Sandemetresi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 87069
Dialing code 0984
Patron saint S. Demetrio Megalomartire
Saint day 26 October
Website Official website

San Demetrio Corone ((Arbëreshë: Shën Mitri) ) is a town and municipality in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy. It is notable for the Collegio of Sant'Adriano, a boarding school which produced many patriots and theorists/revolutionaries in the Italian Independence wars

Geography

The village is surrounded by lush vegetation and overlooks the Piana (plains) di Sibari. Majestic views of the Apennine Mountains and the Ionian Sea dominate the scenery. It is bordered by Acri, Corigliano Calabro, San Cosmo Albanese, Vaccarizzo Albanese, Santa Sofia d'Epiro, Tarsia and Terranova da Sibari.

History

San Demetrio Corone has its origins in the 1470s, founded by Christians fleeing Albania to escape persecution from the invading Ottomans. The townsfolk are generally fluent in both Italian and Arbëresh language.

The church of Sant'Adriano (built ca. 1000AD), adjacent to the aforementioned Collegio, is a fine example of early Norman-Byzantine architecture and contains some exquisite mosaics and other ancient artifacts.

Notes and references