Acerenza is a toun an comune in the province o Potenza, in the Soothren Italian region o Basilicata.

Acerenza
Comune di Acerenza
Coat of airms o Acerenza
Coat airms
Acerenza is located in Italy
Acerenza
Acerenza
Location o Acerenza in Italy
Coordinates: 40°47′48.85″N 15°56′26.45″E / 40.7969028°N 15.9406806°E / 40.7969028; 15.9406806
KintraItaly
RegionBasilicata
ProvincePotenza (PZ)
Govrenment
 • MayorFernando Scattone
Area
 • Total77 km2 (30 sq mi)
Elevation
833 m (2,733 ft)
Population
 (31 Dizember 2014)
 • Total2,433
 • Density32/km2 (82/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Acheruntini
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
85011
Diallin code0971
Patron sauntSt. Canio
Saunt day25 May
WebsiteOffeecial wabsteid

History eedit

Wi its strategic position 800 metre (2,600 ft) abuin sea-level, Acerenza haes been sackit bi a series o invaders.

The toun, then kent as Aceruntia, Acheruntia or Acherontia, wis conquered bi the Romans in 318 BC. Later, it wis taken bi the Ostrogoths (it wis mentioned as an important fortress durin the Gothic Wars) and then the Lombards, who fortifee'd the toun. In 788 Charlemagne ordered that its waws be destroyed. In 1041, efter a period in which it wis focht ower bi the Principality o Salerno an the Byzantine Empire, it wis conquered again bi the Norman Robert Guiscard.

The toun haes been the see o an airchbishop syne at least 499, when a Justus is kent. Accordin tae legend, the toun's first bishop wis appointit bi Saunt Peter.

Frae the 16t century, Acerenza wis held unner the feudal lairdship o the Marquess o Galatone, that faimily bein grantit the title Duke o Acerenza on 12 Apryle 1593 bi Philip II o Spain. Throu marriage the duchy o Acerenza wis inheritit bi the faimily o the Prince o Belmonte, in whose line the title haes styndit tae the present day.

Main sichts eedit

  • Acerenza Cathedral,[1] begun in 1080 bi airchbishop Arnando. In Romanesque-Gothic style, it hooses a famit marble bust o Julian the Apostate. It haes a nave an twa aisles wi 16t century canvasses, an a cryp frae 1524.
  • The kirk o San Laviero Martire (12t century). It haes a Baroque-style stane heich altar wi a altarpiece o the Martyrdom o Saunt Laviero (18t century).

References eedit

Freemit airtins eedit