Melfi

Melfi
Country	Italy
region	Basilicata
province	Potenza (PZ)
Coordinates	41 ° 0 ′ N , 15 ° 39 ′ E Coordinates: 40 ° 59 ′ 46 ″ N , 15 ° 39 ′ 21 ″ E
height	532 m slm
surface	205.15 km²
Residents	17,592 (Dec. 31, 2019)
Population density	86 inhabitants / km²
Post Code	85025
prefix	0972
ISTAT number	076048
Popular name	Melfitani
Patron saint	Sant'Alessandro
Website	Melfi
	; View of Melfi

Melfi ( ˈmɛlfi ) is an Italian commune in the province of Potenza in the Basilicata region . The city is the seat of the diocese of Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa .

Location and dates

Melfi is located 51 kilometers north of Potenza in the Vulture area . The place has 17,592 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019). The districts ( frazione ) are Foggiano, Leonessa di Melfi and San Nicola di Melfi.

The neighboring communities are Aquilonia ( AV ), Ascoli Satriano ( FG ), Candela ( FG ), Lacedonia ( AV ), Lavello , Monteverde ( AV ), Rapolla , Rionero in Vulture and Rocchetta Sant'Antonio ( FG ).

From Melfi there is a railway line to Potenza and Foggia . The E842 runs north of Melfi .

history

Melfi was founded at the foot of Monte Vulture on the Melpes river . The exact year of foundation is unknown. The earliest traces of settlement on the soil of the municipality date from the Neolithic . Also from the early Iron Age, the 9th / 8th centuries. Century BC Remnants of settlements have been found from BC and Roman times. Melfi was fortified at the time of the Lombards . The place developed into an important trading center. In 1037 Melfi became a bishopric, in 1041 the center of Apulia and Calabria. In 1059 the Council of Melfi was convened by Pope Nicholas II .

Melfi continued to grow and the city received a new city wall with five gates. Churches were built in the city, including the cathedral in the 11th century.

Emperor Friedrich II made Melfi his summer residence and in 1231 enacted the Melfi Constitutions , a collection of laws.

The place was renovated in the 19th century. In 1930 an earthquake destroyed Melfi.

The Norman-Hohenstaufen castle

Attractions

Melfi is rich in buildings from all historical periods since Roman times and is the seat of the Museo archeologico nazionale del Vulture e Melfese .

Norman-Hohenstaufen castle

A previous castle already stood here in Norman times. At the request of Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, the fortifications were expanded. The castle was rebuilt during the Anjou rule. A branch of the National Archaeological Museum is housed in the rooms of the fort.

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

It is not clear when the cathedral was built. Either it was built by Robert Guiskard , Duke of Apulia and Calabria , from 1073 to 1076 or founded by Wilhelm I in 1155. The church tower dates from 1150 or 1153 and is 49 meters high. The year 1150 can be seen from an inscription built into the base. The transept was built in 1472 and the inner arcades were built in 1526. In 1694 the cathedral was partially destroyed and rebuilt in the baroque style.

A choir from 1557 has been preserved inside. The organ and the pulpit are from the 18th century.

Rock Church of St. Margaret

The rock church of St. Margaret of Antioch is completely carved into the volcanic tuff. This church is the most beautiful and best preserved of the numerous painted rock caves on the slope of the Vultureberg.

Other churches and monasteries

The church and monastery of St. Anthony were founded in 1222. The Capuchin monastery was built in 1528. Outside Melfi is the rock church of the Madonna delle Spinelle. The church is completely carved in the rock. In the rock church of Santa Margherita, it is on the way to Rapolla, frescoes can be seen.

Sports

View of the field of the Stadio Arturo Valerio from the south curve

Melfi is home to the football club AS Melfi , which plays in the Italian Eccellenza Basilicata. The team's colors are yellow and green (gialloverde). A basilisk (mythology) is found on the club's coat of arms as well as on the city's coat of arms . The club plays its home games at the Stadio Arturo Valerio in Melfi. An important part of Melfi's football culture are the ultras .

economy

Vines for the red wine Aglianico del Vulture are grown in Melfi .

Melfi is the location of a large plant belonging to the automobile manufacturer Fiat . The Fiat Grande Punto as well as the new Fiat 500X and the Jeep Renegade are manufactured there.

Personalities born in Melfi

Francesco Saverio Nitti (1868–1953), economist and politician
Pasquale Festa Campanile (1927–1986), film director, screenwriter and writer.
Antonia Ciasca (1930-2001), archaeologist

literature

The itineraries of Frederick II in the province of Potenza, a publication of the Basilicata region.

Web links

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

Individual evidence

↑ Statistiche demografiche ISTAT. Monthly population statistics of the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica , as of December 31 of 2019.
↑ APT of Basilicata

[1] Statistiche demografiche ISTAT. Monthly population statistics of the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica , as of December 31 of 2019.

[2] APT of Basilicata