Viggiano Explained

Viggiano
Official Name:Comune di Viggiano
Coordinates:40.3333°N 69°W
Region:Basilicata
Province:Potenza (PZ)
Mayor:Amedeo Cicala
Area Total Km2:89.03
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:3148
Population As Of:1996
Population Demonym:Viggianesi
Elevation Footnotes:[2]
Elevation M:975
Saint:Saint Peter
Day:April 7
Postal Code:85059
Area Code:0975

Viggiano is a comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Calvello, Corleto Perticara, Grumento Nova, Laurenzana, Marsicovetere, and Montemurro.

Viggiano is known for migrant street musicians who have brought their music to Italy and worldwide through the centuries, as well as renowned for the construction of harps.[3] Many Viggianesi had the opportunity to play in many symphonic orchestras in Europe, United States and Australia. The street musicians from Viggiano are cited as an influence on Hector Malot's Sans Famille.[4]

Today Viggiano is known to be home to Europe's largest onshore hydrocarbon field that makes Italy the third-largest oil producer of the continent, behind Norway and United Kingdom.[5]

The comune hosted from 1997 to 2013 the International Flute Competition "Leonardo De Lorenzo", some the jury members over the years included Jean-Pierre Rampal, Julius Baker, Jindřich Feld, Susan Milan, Carol Wincenc, and Ransom Wilson.[6]

People linked to Viggiano

Notes and References

  1. All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
  2. Web site: Comune di Viggiano (PZ) - CAP e Informazioni utili. Tuttitalia. Italian.
  3. John E. Zucchi, The Little Slaves of the Harp, McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, 1998, p.33
  4. Web site: L’arpa perduta - L’identità dei musicanti girovaghi. consiglio.basilicata.it. Eva Bonitatibus. it, en. June 22, 2016. May 7, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507175357/http://www.consiglio.basilicata.it/consiglionew/files/docs/28/54/62/DOCUMENT_FILE_285462.pdf. dead.
  5. Web site: Oil Fields Under Olive Groves Offer Italy Economic Boost . bloomberg.com. Alessandra Migliaccio . May 30, 2013. May 2, 2016.
  6. Web site: Past editions of the "Leonardo De Lorenzo" International Flute Competition. leonardodelorenzo.com. May 15, 2016. May 25, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140525213607/http://www.leonardodelorenzo.com/#!past-editions/crd9. dead.