Nuceria Alfaterna
| Nocera Inferiore | ||
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| Comune | ||
| Comune di Nocera Inferiore | ||
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 Nocera Inferiore
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| Coordinates: 40°45′N 14°38′E / 40.750°N 14.633°ECoordinates: 40°45′N 14°38′E / 40.750°N 14.633°E | ||
| Country | Italy | |
| Region | Campania | |
| Province / Metropolitan city | Salerno (SA) | |
| Frazioni | Cicalesi, Merichi, Vescovado, Casolla, San Mauro | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Manlio Torquato | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 20 km2 (8 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 43 m (141 ft) | |
| Population (1 December 2009) | ||
| • Total | 45,868 | |
| • Density | 2,300/km2 (5,900/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Nocerini | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 84014 | |
| Dialing code | 081 | |
| Patron saint | St. Priscus | |
| Saint day | May 9 | |
| Website | Official website | |
Nocera Inferiore is a city and comune in Campania, Italy, in the province of Salerno, at the foot of Monte Albino, 20 km east-south-east of Naples by rail.
In the period before the Roman supremacy in southern Italy, Nuceria Alfaterna, situated between the current Nocera Inferiore and Nocera Superiore, appears to have been the chief town in the valley of the river Sarnus, with Herculaneum, Pompeii, Stabiae and Surrentum all being dependent upon it. Nuceria minted its own money, its coins bearing the head of the river god, and developed its own alphabet called nucerino and which derived from the Etruscan language. It maintained its allegiance to Rome until 309 BC when it joined the revolted Samnites. In 308 BC it repulsed a Roman attempt to land at the mouth of the Sarnus, but in 307 BC it was besieged and surrendered. It obtained favourable terms, and remained faithful to Rome even after Cannae.
Hannibal reduced it in 216 BC by starvation, and destroyed the town. The inhabitants returned when peace was restored. Even during the Social War Nuceria remained true to Rome, though the dependent towns joined the revolt; after it they were formed into independent communities, and Nuceria received the territory of Stabiae, which had been destroyed by Sulla in 89 BC, as a compensation. In 73 BC it was plundered by Spartacus.
At an early date the city became an episcopal see, and in the 12th century it sided with Innocent II against Roger of Sicily, and suffered severely for its choice.
In the 13th century, and long after, the town had the name of Nocera de' Pagani (Nocera of the pagans) because a colony of Muslim Saracens was introduced by Frederick II. The town was described as "a genuine Muhammadan town with all its characteristic mosques and minarets." It is said that, through their darker complexion and features, the townsfolk maintain the heritage of these Muslims settlers. Notably, while the towns name was changed from Nocera de' Pagani to Nocera Inferiore, a nearby town, Nuceria Christianorum, was renamed Nocera Superiore. But in 1239 Frederick II decided to expel the Muslim population of Nocera and the city was abandoned.
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Wikipedia