Santi Cosma e Damiano, Lazio

Santi Cosma e Damiano
Comune
Comune di Santi Cosma e Damiano

Coat of arms
Santi Cosma e Damiano

Location of Santi Cosma e Damiano in Italy

Coordinates: 41°18′N 13°49′E / 41.300°N 13.817°E
Country Italy
Region Lazio
Province Latina (LT)
Frazioni Cerri Aprano, Grunuovo, San Lorenzo, Ventosa
Government
  Mayor Vincenzo Di Siena
Area
  Total 31 km2 (12 sq mi)
Elevation 181 m (594 ft)
Population (1 June 2009[1])
  Total 6,789
  Density 220/km2 (570/sq mi)
Demonym Sancosemesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 04020
Dialing code 0771
Patron saint Santi Cosma e Damiano
Saint day September 26

Santi Cosma e Damiano is a town and comune in the province of Latina, in the Lazio region of central Italy, whose territory is located partly in the Monti Aurunci area and partly in the Garigliano plain.

Sights include an 11th-century tower in the frazione of Ventosa.

History

It is mentioned for the first time in a Gaetan document from 830 AD, although the area was inhabited in ancient times by the Ausoni/Aurunci (nearby was the ancient town of Vescia).

Here, in the locality known as Vattaglia (local dialect for "battle"), was fought in 915 the Battle of Garigliano between the Italian league and the Saracens. After the battle the place was part of the Duchy of Gaeta, then of the Montecassino Abbey until the Norman conquest in 1140, after which it followed the history of the Kingdom of Naples.

During World War II, Santi Cosma e Damiano was located on the Gustav Line, and therefore suffered heavy bombings in 194344.

References

  1. Data from Istat