Ferrandina

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Ferrandina
Troilia (Greek)
Comune di Ferrandina
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View of Ferrandina
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Ferrandina
Location of Ferrandina in Italy
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Ferrandina
Ferrandina (Basilicata)
Coordinates: 40°30′N16°27′E / 40.500°N 16.450°E / 40.500; 16.450
Country Italy
Region Basilicata
Province Matera (MT)
Frazioni Macchia di Ferrandina
Government
  MayorCarmine Lisanti
Area
[1]
  Total
218.11 km2 (84.21 sq mi)
Elevation
420 m (1,380 ft)
Population
 (May 2009) [2]
  Total
9,117
  Density41.80/km2 (108.3/sq mi)
Demonym Ferrandinesi
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
75013
Dialing code 0835
ISTAT code 077008
Patron saint San Rocco
Saint day16 August
Website Official website

Ferrandina (Lucano: Frannine) is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is a center for production of high quality olive oil.

Contents

Geography data

The town is located on a 482 metres (1,581 ft) hill in the Basento Valley on the western bank of the river Basento. Ferrandina is part of the "Collina Materana" and it is the fourth biggest town in Basilicata. Towns close are: Pomarico, Miglionico, Salandra, Pisticci, Grottole, San Mauro Forte and Craco. Ferrandina is 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Matera and 77 kilometres (48 mi) from Potenza.

Climate

The typical Materan hill climate is very hot during the summer and cold and fresh during the winter. Rain fall is concentrated principally from October to May and snow in winter. Also heavy fog in the autumn-winter season.

History

The towns roots go back as far as Magna Grecia, about 1000 BC. The original name was Troilia, while its acropolis was called Obelanon (Uggiano). Troilia was built in memory of the Asia Minor city Troia by the Ancient Greeks. Ferrandina was named in honor of the father of King Frederick of Naples. In 1507 Ferdinand II of Aragon conferred it the title of 'Civitas'. Right after, the Dominicans created an agricultural center specialized in the production of wool, highly valued in the Kingdom of Naples.

In 1546 the Dominicans established the monastery of Saint Dominic. Ferrandina took part of the 1820 and 1860 rebellions. In March 1862, brigand leader Carmine Crocco confronted and destroyed here a company of Italian troops.

In September 1943, Ferrandina rose against the fascists. The farmers rebelled to expel and seize the land of fascist landlords. The town was cut off from electricity and telephones in an attempt to quench the protest. The provisional government sent to the city military troops, later followed by minister Mario Scelba, member of the provisional anti-fascist government of Southern Italy, arrived in Ferrandina.

In 2003 Ferrandina took part in protest against the decision to build a nuclear waste center despite no evidence that it would negatively effect the community.

Main sights

References

  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. All demographics and other statistics from the Italian statistical institute (Istat)