San Pietro a Maida
San Pietro a Maida | |
|---|---|
| Comune di San Pietro a Maida | |
  San Pietro a Maida Location of San Pietro a Maida in Italy  San Pietro a Maida San Pietro a Maida (Calabria) | |
| Coordinates: 38°50′50″N 16°20′30″E / 38.84722°N 16.34167°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Calabria |
| Province | Catanzaro (CZ) |
| Frazioni | San Pietro a Maida Scalo |
| Area | |
• Total | 16.3 km2 (6.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 365 m (1,198 ft) |
| Population (31 December 2013)[2] | |
• Total | 4,301 |
| • Density | 264/km2 (683/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 88025 |
| Dialing code | 0968 |
| Patron saint | San Nicola di Bari |
| Website | Official website |
San Pietro a Maida (Calabrian: San Pìetru a Majida) is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of southern Italy.[3]
Geography
The town is bordered by Curinga, Jacurso, Lamezia Terme and Maida and sits on a plateau 355 meters above sea level and has a land area equal to 16.35 km². The soil in the area is conducive to agriculture and especially olive cultivation.
Due to its proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea, San Pietro a Maida enjoys a mild climate.
History
The area had been settled since ancient times and many different stories concerning its origin have been told. According to various accounts, the town emerged from a reclaimed village called "Petrum" that existed some time in the 15th century. Reliable sources have pointed to older origins and have speculated that the town was established around the same time as nearby Curinga in the 9th-10th centuries.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the lowermost part of the territory was for a very long time an important settlement during the early Lower Paleolithic (700,000-500,000 years ago). Since 1973, the discovery of many stone artifacts confirmed the existence of paleotithic settlements dating back to the Pleistocene and Quaternary periods.[4]
Monuments and Places of Interest
The churches of San Nicola di Bari, Santa Maria and San Giovanni are the three major churches in the town. Established in the 16th century, the church of San Nicola di Bari is the largest and is named after the patron saint, Saint Nicholas.
Terracotta bas-reliefs by sculptors Francesco and Fortunato Violi recount the history and origins of San Pietro a Maida and decorate the streets.[5]
Culture
The town is known to host special "Ulivo" events that are held once every two years since 1985. Other festivals occur throughout the year celebrating the town's history.[6]
Economy
San Pietro a Maida's economy is derived from agriculture. While olive oil is the main export in the area, the town also produces large quantities of wheat, fruits and vegetables. The town has also developed thanks to a strong emigration to countries such as Switzerland and Germany. Immigration to countries such as Australia, Argentina and the United States also greatly benefited the town. [7]
Notes and references
- ↑ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ↑ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ↑ "Genealogy in San Pietro a Maida". ItalianSide. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ↑ "History-Municipality of San Pietro a Maida". Commune di San Pietro a Maida. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ↑ Carchidi, Antonio (2020). San Pietro a Maida: Storia, Sapori, Usi Costumi Da Scoprire [San Pietro a Maida: History, Flavors, Customs, and Traditions to Discover] (in Italian). Lamezia Terme, Italy: Grafichéditore. p. 162. ISBN 8894998339. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ↑ Carchidi, Antonio (2020). San Pietro a Maida: Storia, Sapori, Usi Costumi Da Scoprire [San Pietro a Maida: History, Flavors, Customs, and Traditions to Discover] (in Italian). Lamezia Terme, Italy: Grafichéditore. p. 53. ISBN 8894998339. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ↑ Carchidi, Antonio (2020). San Pietro a Maida: Storia, Sapori, Usi Costumi Da Scoprire [San Pietro a Maida: History, Flavors, Customs, and Traditions to Discover] (in Italian). Lamezia Terme, Italy: Grafichéditore. p. 104. ISBN 8894998339. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
