Cattolica

Cattolica
Comune
Comune di Cattolica
The Fountain of Sirens

Coat of arms
Cattolica
Location of Cattolica in Italy
Coordinates: 43°58′N 12°44′E / 43.967°N 12.733°E / 43.967; 12.733Coordinates: 43°58′N 12°44′E / 43.967°N 12.733°E / 43.967; 12.733
Country Italy
Region Emilia-Romagna
Province Rimini (RN)
Frazioni Torconca
Government
 • Mayor Mariano Gennari
Area
 • Total 5 km2 (2 sq mi)
Elevation 12 m (39 ft)
Population (31 December 2014)
 • Total 17,084
 • Density 3,400/km2 (8,800/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Cattolichini
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code 47841
Dialing code 0541
Patron saint St. Pius V
Saint day April 30
Website Official website

Cattolica (Romagnol: Catòlga) is a town and comune in the Province of Rimini, Italy, with 16,233 (2007) inhabitants. [1]

History

Archaeological excavations show that the area was already settled in Roman times.

Cattolica rose as a resting place for pilgrims who traveled the Bologna-Ancona-Rome route, on their way to the sanctuary of Loreto or to St. Peter's in Rome. In 1500 it counted more than twenty taverns and inns. Only from the second half of the 19th century did the fishing industry became relevant in the economy of the town.

One of the first notable visitors to Cattolica's beach was Lucien Bonaparte, brother of the French Emperor, who preferred it to the noisy Rimini, in 1823. The town became an independent commune in 1896.

After the end of World War I the tourism industry became predominant.

Main sights

  • Church of San Apollinare (13th century)
  • Malatesta tower (1490)
  • Museum of the Queen with the S. Croce Gallery (16th century)
  • Watchtower (now included in a closed disco)
  • Aquarium of Cattolica "Le Navi"

People

International relations

Cattolica is twinned with:

Events

  • The feast of Stella Maris: fishing vessels and vongolaie leads in the midst of the sea, the statue of the Virgin Mary "Stella Maris", after a religious procession.
  • The Festival of the flowers: since 1950s, Cattolica hosts a show of flower markets with many stalls along the streets of the city.
  • The Pink Night, celebrated in town along the coast from Cattolica to Bellaria. It is a festival which is celebrated in June–July and is quite recent: the opportunity for all the shops, bars and restaurants adorn the premises of pink, with dancing to the beach and dive into the sea at midnight.
  • The Fair of the ancient flavors of land and sea, with local wine tasting acoompagnate animations and concerts.
  • International Mystery Film Festival of Cattolica (known in Italian as Festival internazionale del giallo e del mistero di Cattolica but internationally mostly known by its commonly used abbreviation "MystFest" (it).

References

  1. ↑ "The World Gazetteer". Archived from the original on 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2007-02-23.


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