Castrovillari
| Castrovillari | ||
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| Comune | ||
| Città di Castrovillari | ||
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.svg) Castrovillari within the Province of Cosenza and Calabria |
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 Castrovillari
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| Coordinates: 39°49′N 16°12′E / 39.817°N 16.200°E | ||
| Country | Italy | |
| Region | Calabria | |
| Province / Metropolitan city | Cosenza (CS) | |
| Frazioni | Cammarata, Ciminito, Vigne | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Domenico Lo Polito | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 130 km2 (50 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 362 m (1,188 ft) | |
| Population (31 August 2013) | ||
| • Total | 22,383 | |
| • Density | 170/km2 (450/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Castrovillaresi | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 87012 | |
| Dialing code | 0981 | |
| Patron saint | St. Iulian | |
| Saint day | January 27 | |
| Website | Official website | |
Castrovillari is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy.
Castrovillari lies in north of Calabria, close to the borders with Basilicata and within the Pollino National Park. The town is situated in the middle of a huge arena shaped by mountains including Pollino (2,248 m) and Dolcedorme (2,273 m), within the Pollino National Park.
The town borders with the municipalities of Lungro, Cassano allo Ionio, Cerchiara di Calabria, Chiaromonte (PZ), Civita, Frascineto, Morano Calabro, San Basile, San Lorenzo Bellizzi, San Lorenzo del Vallo, Saracena, Spezzano Albanese, Viggianello and Terranova di Pollino.
The name derives probably from the medieval Latin castrum villarum, meaning "fortress of the villas". The place is inhabited since prehistoric times. The city was founded, or better fortified, in the Middle Ages during the wars between the Lombards and the Byzantine Empire; the name comes from a more ancient fortress called "Sassonion" or "Saxonion", so the "Castron" appeared in some documents as "Neon Sassonion", likely the ancient Byzantine name corresponding to the medieval Latin "Castrum Villarum". Officially the city entered the history in 1064 AD when the "Castra" was occupied by Norman warriors led by Robert Guiscard. In 1090, during the earldom of his son Roger Borsa, the sanctuary of "Saint Mary of the Castle" Madonna del Castello was built.
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Wikipedia