Maida | |
Official Name: | Comune di Maida |
Coordinates: | 38.85°N 38°W |
Region: | Calabria |
Province: | Catanzaro (CZ) |
Frazioni: | Vena di Maida |
Mayor: | Salvatore Paone |
Area Total Km2: | 58.2 |
Population Total: | 4534 |
Population As Of: | 31 December 2013 |
Population Demonym: | Maidesi |
Elevation M: | 299 |
Saint: | St. Francis of Paola |
Day: | 2 April |
Postal Code: | 88025 |
Area Code: | 0968 |
Maida is an italian town and comune in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The British routed the French in the Battle of Maida in 1806, as part of the War of the Third Coalition.
Maida is 16km (10miles) south of Lamezia Terme and 31km (19miles) west of the provincial capital Catanzaro.
On 4 July 1806 the British under General John Stuart defeated the French under Jean Reynier outside the town at the Battle of Maida. A London pub on the Edgware Road was named The Hero of Maida, which in turn gave its name to the adjoining London districts, Maida Hill and, later, Maida Vale. King Ferdinand IV of Naples and Sicily awarded Stuart the title of Count of Maida.
The Norman castle of Maida was built in the 11th century under the direction of Duke Robert Guiscard.
The main economic activity in the area is agriculture, especially the cultivation of olive trees, citrus, and kiwifruit. In recent years, tourism has become a significant source of income.
Maida is a sister city with: