Lauria

Lauria
Comune
Comune di Lauria

Lauria within the Province of Potenza
Lauria

Location of Lauria in Italy

Coordinates: 40°03′N 15°50′E / 40.050°N 15.833°E / 40.050; 15.833Coordinates: 40°03′N 15°50′E / 40.050°N 15.833°E / 40.050; 15.833
Country Italy
Region Basilicata
Province / Metropolitan city Potenza (PZ)
Frazioni see list
Government
 • Mayor Angelo Lamboglia
Area
 • Total 175 km2 (68 sq mi)
Elevation 430 m (1,410 ft)
Population (31 December 2015)[1]
 • Total 12,919
 • Density 74/km2 (190/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Laurioti
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 85044
Dialing code 0973
Patron saint Bl. Domenico Lentini
Saint day 25 February
Website Official website

Lauria is an Italian town and comune of the province of Potenza, in Basilicata, situated near the borders of Calabria. It is a walled town on the steep side of a hill with another portion in the plain below. As of 2015 it had a population of 12,919.[1]

History

The original nucleus of the city appeared probably in the 10th century, near the place where later the Sanctuary of Madonna dell'Armo was edificated. However it seems that monastic activity pre-existed in the area, as Lauria just means the "lavra city". The Castle of Lauria, later attributed to Roger of Lauria, was built by Saracens. In the 12th century Lauria was the seat of a Norman fief, which was held by Gibel and then by his son Richard of Lauria, who died in the battle of Benevento on 1266.[2]

His son Roger of Lauria was a famous admiral of the 13th century.

In 1806 the city was destroyed and the population slaughtered by the French soldiers under general André Masséna, as punishment for having supported the Bourbon kings.

Geography

Located in southern Basilicata and included in the Appennino Lucano - Val d'Agri - Lagonegrese National Park, Lauria is a hill town divided into a pair of districts (in italian, "rioni"): the upper one named "rione superiore" (in ancient times, "Castello", because the presence of its castle) and the lower one named "rione inferiore" (formerly "Borgo"). The municipality borders with Castelluccio Superiore, Castelsaraceno, Lagonegro, Laino Borgo (CS), Latronico, Moliterno, Nemoli, Tortora (CS) and Trecchina.[3][4]

Localities

Lauria counts one only hamlet (frazione), that is Pecorone, and the following localities: Acqua delle Donne, Alte Coste, Borgo Seluci, Bivio Seluci, Canicella, Cavallo, Cerase, Cesinelle, Cogliandrino, Gremile, Galdo, Fabbricato, Iacoia, Iacoia di Sotto, Madonna del Carmine, Malfitano, Mazzarella, Melara-Ovo della Vacca, Montegaldo, Piano Cataldo, Piano della Menta, Piano Focara, Pietraferrata, Piscitella, Prestieri, Rosa, Rosa di Sotto, Rosa Molino, Santa Barbara, Santa Filomena, San Giuseppe, Santa Lucia, Seluci, Serino, Seta, Taverna del Postiere, Timparossa, and Timpone di Seluci.

Demographics

Main sights

Saint James church 
Lauria railway station in 2014 
Monument to Roger of Lauria 

Transport

Lauria is not served by a near airport, anyway the nearest airport is Salerno-Pontecagnano 129 kilometres (80 mi) from Lauria. Other airports are Lamezia Terme and Napoli-Capodichino.

The town is served by the A2 motorway Salerno-Reggio Calabria, at the exits "Lauria Nord" and "Lauria Sud" and, until the closure in 1979, by the Lagonegro–Castrovillari-Spezzano Albanese railway.[5]

People

References

  1. 1 2 Population data from Istat
  2. ↑ (in Italian) History of Lauria
  3. ↑ 40203 Lauria on OpenStreetMap
  4. ↑ (in Italian) Geography of Lauria
  5. ↑ (in Italian) List of FCL railway lines
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