Scalea

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Scalea
coat of arms
Scalea (Italy)
Scalea
Country Italy
region Calabria
province Cosenza  (CS)
Coordinates 39 ° 49 ′  N , 15 ° 48 ′  E Coordinates: 39 ° 49 ′ 0 ″  N , 15 ° 48 ′ 0 ″  E
height 25  m slm
surface 22 km²
Residents 11,363 (Dec 31, 2019)
Population density 517 inhabitants / km²
Post Code 87029
prefix 0985
ISTAT number 078138
Popular name Scaleoti
Patron saint Beata Vergine del Carmine
Website Scalea
The historic old town of Scalea
The historic old town of Scalea

Scalea is a coastal municipality in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region in southern Italy with 11,363 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019).

Location and dates

Scalea is about 95 km north of Cosenza on the western coast of Calabria.

The neighboring municipalities are: Orsomarso , San Nicola Arcella , Santa Domenica Talao and Santa Maria del Cedro .

history

Finds and paintings from prehistoric times prove the presence of sedentary people since that time.

With the construction of the Franciscan monastery by Pietro Cathin, a follower of Francis of Assisi , Scalea became a religious and cultural center. In Longobard times Scalea was assigned to the diocese of Policastro, under the Normans it came to Cassano all'Ionio in 1098, within which, however, it formed its own vicariate in modern times. In 1979 this was united with San Marco Argentano to form the diocese of San Marco Argentano-Scalea.

Secular rule over Scalea was in the hands of the Sanseverino family until the 16th century , then it passed to the Spinelli, or rather to the princes Lanza di Scalea , who, however, mainly resided in Sicily. One of the well-known representatives of the family is the MP, Senator and multiple minister Pietro Lanza di Scalea (1863-1938).

Because of the maritime landing stage, Scalea has been exposed to repeated attacks by the Saracens and corsairs over the centuries .

During World War II, the city was badly damaged by air and water attacks by the Anglo-American armed forces.

Attractions

Surrounded by sea and mountains, the historic old town with its long staircase (lat. Scala, hence the name Scalea) forms a successful contrast to the modern center on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea . The coastal tower Torre Talao is the symbol of the city of Scalea.

  • In front of the historic old town

  • Monastery ruins in the historic old town

  • Long stairs

  • Modern center

  • Torre Talao

  • View from Torre Talao to the beach

traffic

Scalea is located on Strada Statale 18 Tirrena Inferiore and on the Salerno – Reggio di Calabria railway line . An airfield was opened in 2006 just under five kilometers south of Scalea ( ⊙ ). The river Lao flowing by here damaged the facility several times during floods, which is why it was not used for a long time. The runway is oversized for general aviation , but the airfield is too small for commercial aircraft. The nearest commercial airport is Lamezia Terme .

Sports

In 2000 the third stage of the 83rd Giro d'Italia was completed here, won by Ján Svorada .

literature

  • Giovanni Celico: Scalea tra duchi e principi mercanti filosofi e santi. Editur Calabria, Soveria Mannelli 2000.
  • Carmelina Stummo: Scalea e il suo dialetto tra cultura e tradizioni. Canti, filastrocche, proverbi. Salviati, Milan 2004, ISBN 88-88708-03-0 .

Web links

Commons : Scalea  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Statistiche demografiche ISTAT. Monthly population statistics of the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica , as of December 31 of 2019.
  2. ↑ Standard entry in the Opac des Servizio Bibliotecario Nazionale
  3. ↑ Image, comments on Scalea airfield, miocomune.it (October 24, 2012) ( Memento from September 25, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) [Image, comments on Scalea airfield, miocomune.it (October 24, 2012)] (PDF; 314 kB)