Summary
Oppido Mamertina (Calabrian Greek: Oppidù, Ofidus) is a town and comune of the province of Reggio Calabria in Calabria in southern Italy at about 62 kilometres (39 mi) northeast of Reggio Calabria and about 120 kilometres (75 mi) southwest of Catanzaro.
Oppido Mamertina
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| Comune di Oppido Mamertina | |
 Coat of arms | |
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| Coordinates: 38°18′N 15°59′E / 38.300°N 15.983°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Calabria |
| Metropolitan city | Reggio Calabria (RC) |
| Frazioni | Castellace, Messignadi, Piminoro, Tresilico |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Domenico Giannetta |
| Area | |
| • Total | 58 km2 (22 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 342 m (1,122 ft) |
| Population (December 2007)[2] | |
| • Total | 5,484 |
| • Density | 95/km2 (240/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Oppidesi |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 89014 |
| Dialing code | 0966 |
| Patron saint | Annunciation |
| Saint day | 25 March |
| Website | Official website |
It is the seat of the Diocese of Oppido Mamertina.
The municipality includes the following boroughs (frazioni): Castellace, Messignadi, Piminoro, and Tresilico.
History edit
The Taurani, Oscan-speaking Italic people from Bruttii, built a large town at the site of Mella[3] near the present Oppido Vecchio in the 4th c. BC after taking over peacefully from Greek Locri, some 15 miles away. who had controlled the area.[4]
The Greek influence in the town is shown by the street plan, building styles and many Greek coins. Later after supporting Hannibal in the 2nd Punic War (218–201 BC), the Tauriani returned to the protection of the Romans who later expanded the town.[5]
The first mention of the town (Oppidum in Latin, meaning citadel) is 1040, during the Byzantine Era.[4]
The town is famous for its prolonged resistance before falling to Roger the Norman in 1056.[4]
On February 5, 1783, an earthquake completely destroyed the town killing 1,198 people.[6] The town was rebuilt near the neighbouring village Tresilico (incorporated in the municipality in 1927). Other earthquakes hit the town in 1894 and on December 28, 1908, which destroyed the neighbouring township Castellace.[4]
Economy edit
The economy is based on agriculture, in particular olive groves and the production of olive oil, as well citrus orchards in the plain. Forestry and sheep husbandry are also sources of income.[4]
Crime edit
The town is home to the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type criminal organization based in Calabria. Several powerful criminal clans originate from the town, such as the Mammoliti-Rugolo.[7]
The town achieved a sad notoriety in July 2014 when, two weeks after Pope Francis, visiting Calabria, had publicly excommunicated the Mafia, a procession carrying a statue of the Madonna stopped to pay homage outside the house of a home confined local mafia leader.[8]
Demographic evolution edit
The population halved during the last century. Many inhabitants moved to the industrial centres in northern Italy or joined the Italian diaspora to escape the extreme poverty.[4]
Notable people edit
- Salvatore Albano (1841-1893), sculptor
- Rocky Gattellari (1941-2023), boxer, Olympian, political candidate and businessman
- Saverio Mammoliti (born 1942), 'Ndrangheta boss
- Alessio Viola (born 1990), footballer
References edit
- ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ All demographics and other statistics from the Italian statistical institute (Istat)
- ^ Paolo Visonà 1999 Oppido Mamertina. Ricerche Archeologiche nel Territorio e in contrada Mella (Rome 1999)
- ^ a b c d e f "Oppido Mamertina: Tour in City" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
- ^ M BROWN, Oppido Mamertina, Italy, May/June 2020 https://www.archaeology.org/issues/380-2005/digs/8614-digs-italy-oppido-mamertina
- ^ Faulting and earthquake triggering during the 1783 Calabria seismic sequence [permanent dead link], Jacques E., Monaco C., Tapponnier P., Tortorici L. & Winter T., Geophysical Journal International, Volume 147, Number 3, 2002, pp.499-516
- ^ Woman of honour, The Independent, February 25, 1996
- ^ "Calabria, la Madonna fa l'inchino al boss - la Repubblica".
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Oppido Mamertina". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.