Macerata

Macerata
Comune
Comune di Macerata
A view of the historical center of Macerata
Coat of arms
Location of Macerata within its province
Macerata Location of Macerata in Italy
Coordinates: 43°18′N 13°27′E / 43.300°N 13.450°E / 43.300; 13.450Coordinates: 43°18′N 13°27′E / 43.300°N 13.450°E / 43.300; 13.450
Country	Italy
Region	Marche
Province / Metropolitan city	Macerata (MC)
Frazioni	Cimarella, Sforzacosta, Santa Maria del Monte, Piediripa, Villa Potenza, Madonna del Monte, Montanello, Montevinci, Santo Stefano, Consalvi, Valle, Valteia
Government
• Mayor	Romano Carancini (since April 2010)
Area
• Total	92.73 km2 (35.80 sq mi)
Elevation	315 m (1,033 ft)
Population (30 September 2016)
• Total	42,239
Demonym(s)	Maceratesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	62100
Dialing code	0733
Patron saint	Julian the Hospitaller
Saint day	31 August
Website	Official website

Macerata [matʃeˈraːta]  listen  is a city and comune in central Italy, the county seat of the province of Macerata in the Marche region. Together with the modern town, sprawling on the plain below the historic centre, it has a population of about 43,000.

The historical city centre is on a hill between the Chienti and Potenza rivers. It first consisted of the Picenes city named Ricina (Helvia Recina), then, after its romanization, Recina and Helvia Recina. After the destruction of Helvia Recina by the barbarians, the inhabitants took shelter upon the hills and eventually began to rebuild the city, first on the top of the hills, before descending again later and expanding. The newly rebuilt town was Macerata. It became a municipality (or comune in Italian) in August 1138.

The town counts several hamlets (frazioni) and localities: Acquesalate, Acquevive, Botonto San Giacomo, Botonto Sant'Isidoro, Cervare, Cimarella, Cincinelli, Collevario, Colleverde, Consalvi, Corneto, Helvia Recina, Isola, Madonna del Monte, Montanello, Piediripa, Sforzacosta, Valle, Vallebona, Valteia, Villa Potenza.

Typically hilly, the climate is both Mediterranean and continental. The Adriatic Sea, which is approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) away, and particularly the Apennine Mountains influence the weather. The elevation of Macerata is approximately 315 metres (1,033 ft) above sea level, so winter is particularly rainy and the snow is not so frequent and plentiful. Balkanic and northwestern perturbations may cause snow. Middle seasons are variable, and late snowfall and frost may occur during April. October is neither warm nor very cold. Summer is rather sunny, and sometimes the thermometer reaches 40 °C (104 °F). Garbino is the cause, a hot wind from the hinterland. Summer thunderstorms are frequent in August during the evening, when the weather becomes quite unstable.