Potenza

For other uses, see Potenza (disambiguation).
"Potentia" redirects here. For a car produced by Kia, see Kia Potentia.
Potenza
Comune
Città di Potenza

Panorama of Potenza

Coat of arms

Potenza within the Province of Potenza
Potenza

Location of Potenza in Italy

Coordinates: 40°38′N 15°48′E / 40.633°N 15.800°E / 40.633; 15.800Coordinates: 40°38′N 15°48′E / 40.633°N 15.800°E / 40.633; 15.800
Country Italy
Region Basilicata
Province / Metropolitan city Potenza (PZ)
Government
 • Mayor Dario De Luca (FDI-AN)
Area
 • Total 173 km2 (67 sq mi)
Elevation 819 m (2,687 ft)
Population (31 May 2015)
 • Total 67,348
 • Density 390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Potentini
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 85100
Dialing code 0971
Patron saint St. Gerard
Saint day May 30
Website Official website

Potenza (Italian: [poˈtɛntsa], Neapolitan: Putènza, Potentino dialect: Putenz) is a city and comune in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata (former Lucania). It is the capital of the province of Potenza and the Basilicata region.

The city is the highest regional capital and one of the highest provincial capitals in Italy, overlooking the valley of the Basento river in the Apennine Mountains of Lucania, east of Salerno. Its territory is bounded by the comuni of Anzi, Avigliano, Brindisi Montagna, Picerno, Pietragalla, Pignola, Ruoti, Tito, and Vaglio Basilicata.

History

Ancient times

The first settlement of Potentia was probably located at a lower elevation than at present, some 10 kilometres (6 miles) 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. Subjugated during the 4th century BC (later gaining the status of municipium), the Potentini rebelled after the Roman defeat at Cannae in 216 BC. However, the Battle of the Metaurus marked the end of any Carthaginian aspirations in Italy, and Potentia was reconquered by the Romans and reduced to the status of military colony.

Middle Ages

In the 6th century, the city passed to the Lombard Duchy of Benevento. Incursions by Saracens raiders menaced the city until the Norman conquest of southern Italy secured the area. In the 12th century, Potenza became an episcopal see. In 1137, the city hosted Pope Innocent II and Emperor Lothair II during their failed attempt to conquer the Norman kingdom. In 1148 or 1149 in Potenza, Roger II of Sicily hosted king Louis VII of France, whom the Norman fleet had freed from the Saracens. After pillaging by Emperor Frederick II, the city remained loyal to the Hohenstaufen: as a result, it was almost totally destroyed by Charles I when the Angevin lord conquered the Kingdom of Sicily. On December 18, 1273, an earthquake further devastated the city.

Cathedral Square.

Modern age

In the following years, the city was owned by various feudal families. Potenza was the site of riots against Spanish domination, and in 1694 it was almost completely destroyed by another earthquake.

With the declaration of the Neapolitan Republic in 1799, Potenza was one of the first cities to rebel against the king. After temporary Bourbon repression, the city was conquered by the French army in 1806, and declared the capital of Basilicata. King Joachim Murat improved the city's living conditions and administration, and some urban improvements were introduced for the visit of Ferdinand II in 1846. A revolt broke out in 1848 and was again put down by Bourbon forces, and a third devastating earthquake followed in 1857. Potenza rebelled for the last time in 1860, before Garibaldi's revolutionary army brought about the unification of Italy.

In September 1943, the city suffered heavy Allied bombing. In 1980, another strong earthquake struck Potenza.

Aerial view of the Duomo and Palazzo Loffredo.

Main sights

Geography

Climate

Potenza experiences a borderline Mediterranean/oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Csb/Cfb).

Climate data for Potenza
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.0
(68)		 21.8
(71.2)		 23.6
(74.5)		 25.6
(78.1)		 29.8
(85.6)		 33.0
(91.4)		 36.8
(98.2)		 36.8
(98.2)		 33.2
(91.8)		 30.0
(86)		 21.8
(71.2)		 20.0
(68)		 36.8
(98.2)
Average high °C (°F) 6.9
(44.4)		 7.2
(45)		 9.7
(49.5)		 12.8
(55)		 18.1
(64.6)		 22.3
(72.1)		 25.7
(78.3)		 25.8
(78.4)		 21.7
(71.1)		 16.5
(61.7)		 11.0
(51.8)		 7.9
(46.2)		 15.47
(59.84)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.0
(39.2)		 4.1
(39.4)		 6.1
(43)		 8.8
(47.8)		 13.7
(56.7)		 17.5
(63.5)		 20.6
(69.1)		 20.7
(69.3)		 17.2
(63)		 12.7
(54.9)		 7.9
(46.2)		 5.1
(41.2)		 11.53
(52.78)
Average low °C (°F) 1.2
(34.2)		 1.1
(34)		 2.5
(36.5)		 4.8
(40.6)		 9.2
(48.6)		 12.7
(54.9)		 15.4
(59.7)		 15.7
(60.3)		 12.7
(54.9)		 8.9
(48)		 4.7
(40.5)		 2.3
(36.1)		 7.6
(45.69)
Record low °C (°F) −9.6
(14.7)		 −10
(14)		 −7.8
(18)		 −3.6
(25.5)		 0.5
(32.9)		 4.0
(39.2)		 8.0
(46.4)		 6.8
(44.2)		 1.2
(34.2)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 −7
(19)		 −8
(18)		 −10
(14)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 55.7
(2.193)		 63.0
(2.48)		 48.6
(1.913)		 66.8
(2.63)		 42.8
(1.685)		 30.4
(1.197)		 26.1
(1.028)		 32.6
(1.283)		 46.2
(1.819)		 61.6
(2.425)		 73.3
(2.886)		 66.0
(2.598)		 613.1
(24.137)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 8.3 8.7 8.8 9.4 6.2 4.2 3.3 4.3 5.3 7.5 8.7 8.1 82.8
Average relative humidity (%) 77 75 72 69 69 67 62 64 66 72 76 78 70.6
Source #1: Servizio Meteorologico (1971–2000 data)[1]
Source #2: Servizio Meteorologico (1961–1990 data on humidity)[2]

Potenza (pōtānˈtsä) [key], city (1990 pop. 65,714), capital of Basilicata and of Potenza prov., S Italy, in the Apennines. It is an agricultural, commercial, and light industrial center. Founded in the 2nd century BC by the Romans, Potenza was later incorporated (847) into the Principality of Salerno. Of note in the city is the Church of San Francesco (begun 1274).

View of Potenza.

Transportation

Potenza is a rail junction on the main line from Salerno to Taranto, managed by FS Trenitalia; it has also a connection to Altamura, served by the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane regional company. The city's main station, which was originally named Potenza Inferiore, is now known as Potenza Centrale.

The nearest airports are:

People

International relations

Potenza is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ "Potenza (PZ) 845 m. s.l.m. (a.s.l.)" (PDF). Servizio Meteorologico. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "Stazione 300 Potenza, medie mensili periodo 61 - 90". Servizio Meteorologico. Retrieved 10 September 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Potenza.
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