Santa Maria Capua Vetere

Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Comune
Città di Santa Maria Capua Vetere

The Cathedral.

Coat of arms
Santa Maria Capua Vetere

Location of Santa Maria Capua Vetere in Italy

Coordinates: 41°05′N 14°15′E / 41.083°N 14.250°E / 41.083; 14.250
Country Italy
Region Campania
Province / Metropolitan city Caserta (CE)
Frazioni Sant'Andrea dei Lagni
Government
 • Mayor Antonio Mirra
Area
 • Total 36 km2 (14 sq mi)
Population (31 August 2015)
 • Total 32,793
 • Density 910/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Sammaritani
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 81055
Dialing code 0823
Patron saint St. Simmachus and Bl. Vergin Maria Assunta
Saint day October 22 and August 15
Website Official website

Santa Maria Capua Vetere is a town and comune in the province of Caserta, part of the region of Campania (southern Italy).

Though it is not connected with the Civitas Capuana, the town is a medieval place and its nearness to the Roman amphitheatre led the inhabitants to change its name in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, where Capua Vetere means Old Capua.

History

For the history of ancient Capua, see History of Ancient Capua.

In the area several settlements of the Villanovan culture were present in pre-historical times, and these were probably enlarged by the Oscans and Etruscans. In the 4th century BCE Capuae was the largest city in Italy after Rome.

The city was damaged by Vandal ravages but later recovered and became the seat of an independent Lombard principate. However, during the struggle of the succession to the Duchy of Benevento, it was destroyed by a band of Saracens in 841 CE. The survivors mostly fled and founded the modern Capua in the site of the ancient River port of Casilinum.

What is now Santa Maria Capua Vetere started to grow slowly when several countryside residences appeared around the old Christian basilicas of Santa Maria Maggiore, San Pietro in Corpo and Sant'Erasmo in Capitolio. King Robert of Anjou made Santa Maria Maggiore one of his summer residences.

The town was known as Santa Maria Maggiore until 1861.

Main sights

For information about main ancient landmarks in the comune of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, see Main sights in Capua.

The main other landmark of Santa Maria Capua Vetere is the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, founded, according to the tradition, by Pope Symmachus in the 5th century. The church had originally a single nave, but was enlarged by Lombard Prince Arechis II of Benevento in 787. Another renovation was carried out in 1666 by Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, with the addition of two further aisles; the current Late Baroque appearance dates to the 1742–88 works, during which the precious mosaic area of the apse was destroyed.

People

The amphitheatre of the ancient Capua.
Arch of Hadrian (Arco d'Adriano).
Tauroctony fresco in the mithraeum, 2nd century.

Twin towns

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 7/17/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.