Santa Maria Capua Vetere

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Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Città di Santa Maria Capua Vetere
The Amphitheatre of Santa Maria Capua Vetere 004.jpg
The Amphitheatre
Coat of arms of Santa Maria Capua Vetere.svg
Location of Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Italy provincial location map 2016.svg
Red pog.svg
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Location of Santa Maria Capua Vetere in Italy
Italy Campania location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Santa Maria Capua Vetere (Campania)
Coordinates: 41°05′N14°15′E / 41.083°N 14.250°E / 41.083; 14.250
Country Italy
Region Campania
Province Caserta (CE)
Frazioni Sant'Andrea dei Lagni
Government
  MayorAntonio Mirra
Area
[1]
  Total36 km2 (14 sq mi)
Elevation
36 m (118 ft)
Population
 (31 August 2015) [2]
  Total32,793
  Density910/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Demonym Sammaritani or Mariani
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
81055
Dialing code 0823
Patron saintSt. Simmachus and Bl. Vergin Maria Assunta
Saint dayOctober 22 and August 15
Website Official website

Santa Maria Capua Vetere is a town and comune in the province of Caserta, in the region of Campania, in southern Italy.

Contents

Though it is not connected with the Civitas Capuana, the town is a medieval place and its proximity to the Roman amphitheatre led the inhabitants to change its name to Santa Maria Capua Vetere, where Capua Vetere means Old Capua.

History

In the area several settlements of the Villanovan culture were present in pre-historical times, and these were probably enlarged by the Oscans and Etruscans. In the 4th century BCE Capuae was the largest city in Italy after Rome.

The city was damaged by Vandal ravages but later recovered and became the seat of an independent Lombard principate. However, during the struggle of the succession to the Duchy of Benevento, it was destroyed by a band of Saracens in 841 CE. The survivors mostly fled and founded the modern Capua in the site of the ancient River port of Casilinum.

What is now Santa Maria Capua Vetere started to grow slowly when several countryside residences appeared around the old Christian basilicas of Santa Maria Maggiore, San Pietro in Corpo and Sant'Erasmo in Capitolio. King Robert of Anjou made Santa Maria Maggiore one of his summer residences.

The town was known as Santa Maria Maggiore until 1861.

During World War I, Santa Maria Capua Vetere was the location of a military camp for Polish prisoners of war from the Austro-Hungarian Army, who then formed new Polish units to fight for Polish independence (see also Italy–Poland relations ). [3]

Main sights

For information about main ancient landmarks in the comune of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, see Main sights in Capua.

The main other landmark of Santa Maria Capua Vetere is the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, founded, according to the tradition, by Pope Symmachus in the 5th century. The church had originally a single nave, but was enlarged by Lombard Prince Arechis II of Benevento in 787. Another renovation was carried out in 1666 by Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, with the addition of two further aisles; the current Late Baroque appearance dates to the 174288 works, during which the precious mosaic area of the apse was destroyed.

People

The amphitheatre of the ancient Capua. Capua Antica Amphitheatre.jpg
The amphitheatre of the ancient Capua.
Arch of Hadrian (Arco d'Adriano). Ehrenbogen arco di adriano.jpg
Arch of Hadrian (Arco d'Adriano).
Tauroctony fresco in the mithraeum, 2nd century. Santa Maria Capua Vetere Mithraeum Tauroctony.jpg
Tauroctony fresco in the mithraeum, 2nd century.

Twin towns

See also

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References

  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. Turek, Stanisław (1928). Zarys historji wojennej 12-go Pułku Kresowego Artylerji Polowej (in Polish). Warszawa. p. 3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)