Potenza

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.

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.