San Marco d'Alunzio

San Marco d'Alunzio
Country	Italy
region	Sicily
Metropolitan city	Messina (ME)
Local name	San Marcu / Sam Marcu
Coordinates	38 ° 4 ' N , 14 ° 42' E Coordinates: 38 ° 4 '0 " N , 14 ° 42' 0" E
height	540 m slm
surface	26 km²
Residents	1,864 (Dec. 31, 2019)
Population density	72 inhabitants / km²
Post Code	98070
prefix	0941
ISTAT number	083079
Popular name	Aluntini or Sanmarcoti
Patron saint	Santi Marco e Nicola
Website	San Marco d'Alunzio
	; Panorama of San Marco d'Alunzio

San Marco d'Alunzio is an Italian municipality in the metropolitan city of Messina in the autonomous region of Sicily with 1864 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019) and is a member of the association I borghi più belli d'Italia (The Most Beautiful Places in Italy).

Location and dates

San Marco d'Alunzio is 99 km west of Messina . The residents work mainly in agriculture and in the tourism industry.

The neighboring communities are Alcara li Fusi , Capri Leone , Frazzanò , Longi , Militello Rosmarino and Torrenova .

history

The ancient Aluntium or Haluntium stood on the site of today's location . In the 4th century BC The Greeks took over the rule. The city at that time was obviously of great regional importance, because it had its own currency. During the Roman rule , the then Haluntium had the meaning of a Civitas Decumana and had its own Senate .

During the following centuries, the city lost its importance and was probably a Byzantine fortress around the 6th century .

The city flourished again during the Norman rule . In 1061 the Normans built the San Marco Castle, around which the mainly Greek population settled. A public bath, a shipyard and extensive agricultural facilities bear witness to the heyday of that time. From 1398 to 1806 the Filangieri family owned the place as a fief , in 1830 the Lanza followed them as heirs.