San Mauro Forte Explained

San Mauro Forte
Official Name:	Comune di San Mauro Forte
Coordinates:	40.4833°N 31°W
Province:	(MT)
Mayor:	Nicola Savino
Area Total Km2:	86.89
Population Footnotes:	^[1]
Population Total:	1803
Population As Of:	December 2008
Population Demonym:	Sanmauresi
Elevation M:	540
Saint:	San Mauro abate
Day:	15 January
Postal Code:	75010
Area Code:	0835

San Mauro Forte is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.

History

The area was established in the sixth century.^[2]

It was probably part of Magna Graecia.^[3]

Geography

The town is on a hill, 540m (1,770feet) above sea level, in the west central part of the province. To the north are the communes of Salandra (14 km/9 miles), Oliveto Lucano (15 km/9 miles) and Garaguso (17 km/11 miles). To the east is Ferrandina (31 km/20 miles) with Craco (25 km/15 miles) and Stigliano (31 km/20 miles) to the south. Accettura is (14 km/9 miles) to the south. The provincial capital, Matera, is 70 km/44 miles away, while the administrative capital of the adjacent province, Potenza, is 66 km/41 miles away.

San Mauro Forte is included in the administrative grouping of Upland Communes of the Matera Hills.

Main sights

Torre Normanna, "Norman Tower"^[4]
The sixteenth-century Church of Santa Maria Assunta, in which are preserved valuable paintings from the eighteenth century;
The Church of the Annunciation, built in the sixteenth century by Franciscan monks, with an adjoining convent;
The Church of St. Mary of the Angels (also known as Chapel of the Rosary or Saint Lucia), of ancient origins;
The eighteenth-century Church of St. Vincent, with a majolica tiled floor and an eighteenth-century organ;
The noble palaces, such as Palazzo Arciaerie (today seat of the Town Hall) and Palazzo Lauria, famous for its Baroque-style portal.^[5]

Religious festivals

The Feast of Saint Maurus, 15 January
Campanacci, the "Festival of the Cowbell", 16 January^[6] ^[7]
St Anthony the Abbot, 17 January
The Feast of Saint Roch, 3 September

Demographic

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Notes and References

All demographics and other statistics from the Italian statistical institute (Istat)
https://www.e-borghi.com/en/village/Matera/393/san-mauro-forte The Italian village of San Mauro Forte
https://www.periodpaper.com/products/1905-print-ancient-greek-inscriptions-s-mauro-forte-matera-stone-language-text-177065-xhd4-003 1905 Print Ancient Greek Inscriptions S Mauro Forte Matera Stone Language XHD4
https://www.enchantingitaly.com/landmarks/basilicata/matera/sanmauro_castello.htm Torre Normanna, San Mauro Forte, Province of Matera, Basilicata, Italy
Web site: San Mauro Forte.
https://www.basilicataturistica.it/en/discover-basilicata/art-and-culture-in-basilicata/traditions-and-rites-in-basilicata/carnival-in-basilicata/the-festival-of-the-cowbell-in-san-mauro-forte/ “The Festival of the Cowbell” in San Mauro Forte”
https://www.manchesteropenhive.com/view/9781526151988/9781526151988.00009.xml#9781526151988.00009 Soundmasks in resounding places - Listening to the Campanaccio of San Mauro Forte