Information AboutPotenza |
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| cities and towns in basilicata | |
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Potenza is a town and Comune in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata (former Lucania). It is the capital of the Potenza Province and the Basilicata region. The city is one of the highest capitals of province in Italy, commanding the valley of the Basento river, on the Apennines of Lucania, east of Salerno . Its territory is bounded by the comuni of Anzi , Avigliano , Brindisi Montagna , Picerno , Pietragalla , Pignola , Ruoti , Tito , Vaglio Basilicata . HISTORY Ancient times According to Strabo and Pliny The Elder , ''Potentia'' was one of the most ancient free cities of Lucania. The first settlement was probably located on a lower site than now, some 10 km south of today's Potenza. The Lucani of Potenza sided against Rome 's enemies during the latter's wars against the Samnites and the Bruttii . Subjected in the course of the 4th century BC (gaining later the status of ''municipium''), the Potentini rebelled after the Roman defeat at Cannae (216 BC). However, the Battle Of Metauro marked the end of any Carthaginian hope in Italy, and Potentia was reconquered by the Romans and reduced to the mere status of military colony. Middle Ages In the 6th century the city passed to the when the Angevin lord conquered the Kingdom of Sicily. On December 18 , 1273 , an earthquake added further destructions. Mondern age In the following years the city lived no relevant events, and was under various feudal owners. Potenza was site of riots against the Spanish domination, but in 1694 it was almost wholly destroyed by another earthquake. With the delcaration of the Neapolitan Republic (1799), Potenza was one of the first cities to rebel against the king. After the momentary Borboun repression, the city was conquered by the French army in 1806, and declared capital of Basilicata. King Joachim Murat improved the city's conditions and administrations, and some urbanistic improvements were introduced for the visit of Ferdinand II in 1846. A revolt broke out in 1848, again suppressed by the Bourbon weapons, and a third devastating earthquake followed in 1857. Potenza rebelled for the last time in 1860, in time for the Unification Of Italy brought by Garibaldi 's revolutionary army. In September 1943 the city suffered heavy Allied bombings. In 1980 , another earthquake hit strongly Potenza. MAIN SIGHTS TRANSPORTATION Potenza is a rail junction on the main line from Salerno to Taranto . EXTERNAL LINKS |