The city is divided into two parts: the old town, on a high hill, and the modern area, on level ground, which is fully connected to the city of Cosenza and central to the cultural and economic life of the urban area.
Geography
Rende stretches from the left river of the Crati to the mountains called "Serre Cosentine".
The municipality counts the hamlets (frazioni) of Arcavacata, Commenda, Quattromiglia, Roges, Santo Stefano, Saporito and Surdo.
The territory presents mountain areas from west that degrade slowly eastward forming hills, one of which is the historic centre, until the valley of the Crati. Thanks to large flat areas, it is covered by the modern city. The most important rivers crossing Rende are Crati, Campagnano, Surdo and Emoli.
History
The Oenotrians founded here a town named Acheruntia and, later, Pandosia. However, several inhabitants later moved to a more defendable area, corresponding to the modern frazione of Nogiano, founding (c. 520 BC) the new settlement of Aruntia, later, Arintha. This is mentioned by the ancient Greek historian Hecataeus of Miletus as a Bruttian town of Oenotrian origins.
During Roman times, the town followed the history of the nearby Cosentia. After a long resistance, it was sacked by Totila's troops in 547, during the Gothic Wars. In the 8th-10th centuries, it was sometimes attacked by Saracen troops, until part of the population moved in what is now the territory of Castiglione Cosentino. Later it was controlled by the Normans and subsequently other southern Italian (sometimes of foreign origin) dynasties.
Mother church of Santa Maria Maggiore, built around 12th century but rebuilt several times, the last in the late 18th century
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Costantinopoli.
Church of Saint Michael, “del ritiro”
Church of Our Lady of the Rosary
Civic Museum of Zagarese’s Palace.
Church of Saint Francis and Our Lady of Grace.
Church of Our Lady of Consolation, in Arcavacata.
Other important palace and little churches in the hystorical center.
Municipal government
Rende is headed by a mayor (sindaco) assisted by a legislative body, the consiglio comunale, and an executive body, the giunta comunale. Since 1994 the mayor and members of the consiglio comunale are directly elected together by resident citizens, while from 1946 to 1993 the mayor was chosen by the legislative body. The giunta comunale is chaired by the mayor, who appoints others members, called assessori. The offices of the comune are housed in a building usually called the municipio or palazzo comunale.
Since 1993, the mayor of Rende is directly elected by citizens, originally every four, then every five years.
↑ Municipal administration dissolved by the national government due to mafia association.
Economy
The economy of Rende is mostly based on the University of Calabria. In comparison to the rest of southern Italy, Rende has quite a strong economy and is therefore in full expansion. While full industrialization has not yet been very successful, in recent times, major companies have established offices in Rende. Among these are the Japanese Digital and Data Innovation company NTT Data,[4] which has a Research and Development office in Rende; and JRS Silvateam Food Ingredients.[5]
Sports
Rende is home to the football team Rende Calcio, which competes in the official semi-professional tournament (C2).
Fonte, Fedele (1976). Rende nella sua cronistoria (in Italian). Chiaravalle Centrale: Frama Sud.
Miceli di Serradileo, Amedeo (2013). Il partito angioino a Cosenza e le sue vicende tra la guerra dei baroni di Ferrante I ed il regno di Carlo V attraverso i documenti dell'Archivio di Stato di Cosenza, in "Archivio Storico per le province napoletane (in Italian). Napoli: Società Napoletana di Storia Patria.
Giraldi, Gerardo (1991). Rende: Usanze, tradizioni, costumi (in Italian). Rende: Amministrazione Comunale di Rende.
Giraldi, Gerardo (2004). Le chiese di Rende (in Italian). Amministrazione Comunale di Rende. Alternate 1990 2nd edition OCLC878860087
Giraldi, Riccardo (2003). Il popolo cosentino e il suo territorio (in Italian). Cosenza: Pellegrini.
Settia, Aldo Angelo (2002). Rapine, assedi, battaglie. La guerra nel medioevo (in Italian). Rome, Bari: Gius. Laterza & Figli S.p.A.
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