Amatrice
Amatrice | ||
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Comune | ||
Comune di Amatrice | ||
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Amatrice Location of Amatrice in Italy | ||
Coordinates: 42°37′37″N 13°17′41″E / 42.62694°N 13.29472°ECoordinates: 42°37′37″N 13°17′41″E / 42.62694°N 13.29472°E | ||
Country | Italy | |
Region | Lazio | |
Province / Metropolitan city | Rieti (RI) | |
Frazioni | see list | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Sergio Pirozzi | |
Area | ||
• Total | 174 km2 (67 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 955 m (3,133 ft) | |
Demonym(s) | Amatriciani | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
Postal code | 02012 | |
Dialing code | 0746 | |
Patron saint | Filetta's Madonna | |
Saint day | Ascension Day | |
Website | Official website |
Amatrice is a town and comune in the province of Rieti, in northern Lazio (central Italy), and the center of the food-agricultural area of Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. The town was devastated by a powerful earthquake on 24 August 2016.
History
Archaeological discoveries show a human presence in the area of Amatrice since prehistoric times, and the remains of Roman buildings and tombs have also been found. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the area became part of the Lombard Duchy of Spoleto, included in the comitatus of Ascoli. The town of Matrice is mentioned in the papers of the Abbey of Farfa in 1012 as commanding the confluence of the Tronto and Castellano rivers. In the year 900 the Pope was from Amatrice.
The medieval and early modern periods
In 1265, during the reign of Manfred of Sicily, Amatrice became part of the Kingdom of Naples. After the capture of Naples by the Angevines, Amatrice rebelled but was vanquished by Charles I of Anjou in 1274, although it maintained some sort of autonomy as an universitas.
In the 14th and 15th century, Amatrice was frequently in conflict with the neighbouring cities of Norcia, Arquata and L'Aquila, and its troops took part in the siege of l’Aquila under Braccio da Montone. In the course of the conflict between Angevines and the Aragonese for the possession of the Kingdom of Naples, Amatrice sided with Naples.
The Church of Sant'Agostino (pictured left) was built in 1428.
In 1529, Amatrice was stormed by troops of Philibert of Chalon, a general in the service of Emperor Charles V, who gave it to its general Alessandro Vitelli.
The city was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1639.
Later, Amatrice was held by the Orsini and the Medici of Florence, who kept it until 1737.
The modern period
After the unification of Italy in the 19th century, Amatrice became part of the province of L'Aquila in the region of Abruzzo, eventually being annexed to Lazio in 1927.
On 24 August 2016, a powerful earthquake struck Amatrice,[1] devastating the town and killing at least 295 people.[2] Sergio Pirozzi, the mayor of Amatrice, said that the town "is no more".[2] Later, Pirozzi said that "three-quarters of the town was destroyed".[3][4] Nearby Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto were also devastated.
Historical buildings
Building | Completed | Status | Additional elements / notes |
---|---|---|---|
Civic tower | 13th century | ‡ | |
Church of Sant'Agostino | 1428 | † | Includes a Gothic portal and some frescoes, including the Annunciation and Madonna with Child and Angels.
Severe damage after the earthquake: Part of the roof and the upper half of the façade including the rose window collapsed.[5] |
Church of Sant'Emidio | 15th century | † | |
Church of San Francesco | late 14th century | includes a marble Gothic portal and 15th-century frescoes in the apse | |
Church of Santa Maria Porta Ferrata | † | ||
Gothic church | † | located in the frazione of San Martino | |
Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie | 15th century | † | located on the alleged site of Marcus Terentius Varro's villa |
Sanctuary of Icona Passatora | late 15th century | † | located in the frazione of Ferrazza |
‡ Withstood the 2016 earthquake
† Did not withstand the earthquake
Cuisine
Amatrice is especially famous for a pasta sauce, sugo all'amatriciana,[6] usually served with a long pasta such as bucatini, spaghetti, or vermicelli. According to popular tradition, numerous cooks of the Popes down the centuries came from Amatrice.
People
- Elio Augusto Di Carlo (1918–1998), Italian ornithologist, historian and physician.
- Sara Pichelli (born 1983), artist.
Frazioni
Frazioni of the town include Aleggia, Bagnolo, Capricchia, Casale, Casale Bucci, Casale Celli, Casale Masacci, Casale Nadalucci, Casalene, Casale Nibbi, Casale Sanguigni, Casale Sautelli, Casale Zocchi, Casali della Meta, Cascello, Castel Trione, Collalto, Collecreta, Collegentilesco, Collemagrone, Collemoresco, Collepagliuca, Colletroio, Colli, Conche, Configno, Cornelle, Cornillo Nuovo, Cornillo Vecchio, Cossara, Cossito, Crognale, Domo, Faizzone, Ferrazza, Filetto, Fiumatello, Francucciano, Le Forme, Moletano, Musicchio, Nommisci, Osteria della Meta, Pasciano, Patàrico, Petrana, Pinaco Arafranca, Poggio Vitellino, Prato, Preta, Rio, Retrosi, Roccapassa, Rocchetta, Saletta, San Benedetto, San Capone, San Giorgio, San Lorenzo a Pinaco, San Sebastiano, Santa Giusta, Sant'Angelo, San Tommaso, Scai, Sommati, Torrita, Torritella, Varoni, Villa San Cipriano, Villa San Lorenzo e Flaviano, and Voceto.[7]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amatrice. |
- ↑ "'This used to be my home': Italians in shock after devastating earthquake". The Guardian. United Kingdom. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- 1 2 "Italy earthquake leaves 159 dead; towns ruined". CNN. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ↑ "Italy earthquake: Death toll rises to at least 159". BBC News. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ↑ "Italian town of Amatrice badly hit by quake, people under rubble – mayor". Thomson Reuters. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ↑ "Amatrice, il crollo della chiesa di Sant'Agostino". askanews (in Italian). 24 August 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016.
- ↑ Brigit Binns (2004). Sauce. Williams Sonoma Collection. Chuck Williams (editor). Simon and Schuster. p. 63. ISBN 9780743261876.
- ↑ webmaster@portaleabruzzo.com, Gianfranco Pulsoni. "comune di AMATRICE (RI), 49 frazioni, 2.630 abitanti (ISTAT 2013)".