Sora, Lazio

Sora
Comune
Comune di Sora

The Justice Palace in Sora.

Coat of arms
Sora

Location of Sora in Italy

Coordinates: 41°43′N 13°37′E / 41.717°N 13.617°E / 41.717; 13.617
Country Italy
Region Lazio
Province / Metropolitan city Frosinone (FR)
Frazioni Carnello
Government
 • Mayor Ernesto Tersigni (PdL)
Area
 • Total 71 km2 (27 sq mi)
Elevation 300 m (1,000 ft)
Population (2014)
 • Total 28,500
 • Density 400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Sorani
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 03039
Dialing code 0776
Patron saint Santa Restituta
Saint day May 27

Sora (Italian pronunciation: [ˈsɔːra]) is a city and comune of Lazio, Italy, in the province of Frosinone. It is built in a plain on the banks of the Liri. This part of the valley is the seat of some important manufactures, especially of paper-mills. The district around Sora is famous for the costumes of its peasants. The distance from Sora to centre of Rome is 115 km, heading In the opposite direction the downtown area of Naples is 138 km from Sora.

History

See also: Duchy of Sora

Sora, an ancient Volscian town, was thrice captured by the Romans, in 345, 314 and 305 BCE, before they managed, in 303, by means of a colony 4,000 strong, to confirm its annexation. In 209 it was one of the colonies which refused further contributions to the war against Hannibal. By the lex Julia it became a municipium, but under Augustus it was colonized by soldiers of the legio IV Sorana, which had been mainly enrolled there. It belonged technically to Latium adiectum.

The city and the ducal palace in 1604.

Located in the Ducatus Romanus under the authority of the pope during the early Dark Ages, it was captured by the Lombards of Gisulf I of Benevento in 705.

The castle of Sorella, built on the rocky height above the town, was in the Middle Ages a stronghold of some note. In 1443 King Alfonso of Naples made Sora the seat of an independent Duchy for the Cantelmi; it was afterwards seized by Pope Pius II, but, being restored to the Cantelmi by Pope Sixtus IV, it ultimately passed to the Della Rovere of Urbino. Against Caesar Borgia the city was heroically defended by Giovanni da Montefeltro. It was purchased by Pope Gregory XIII for 11,000 ducats and bestowed under the suzerainty of Gregory's son, Giacomo Boncompagni (who was the first duke of Sora of the family).

Cathedral

Main sights

The original cathedral, consecrated by Pope Adrian IV in 1155, was destroyed by the earthquake of 1634.

Above the town on a precipitous rock, elevation 540 metres (1,770 ft), that guards the Liri's valley and the entrance to the Abruzzi are remains of polygonal walls; here, possibly, was the citadel of the original Volscian town. There are also remains of medieval fortifications.

St. Dominik Abbey

Notable people

Sora

Bounding communes

Twin towns

References

External links

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