Mongrassano

Mongrassano
Comune
Comune di Mongrassano

Coat of arms
Mongrassano
Location of Mongrassano in Italy
Coordinates: 39°32′N 16°7′E / 39.533°N 16.117°E / 39.533; 16.117Coordinates: 39°32′N 16°7′E / 39.533°N 16.117°E / 39.533; 16.117
Country Italy
Region Calabria
Province Cosenza (CS)
Government
 • Mayor Ferruccio Mariani (Progetto Mongrassano)
Area
 • Total 35.16 km2 (13.58 sq mi)
Elevation 540 m (1,770 ft)
Population (31 October 2017)
 • Total 1,562
 • Density 44/km2 (120/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Mongrassanesi
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code 87040
Dialing code 0984
Patron saint Santa Lucia da Siracusa
Saint day Third Sunday in August
Website Official website

Mongrassano (Arbëreshë Albanian: Mungrasana) is a town and comune of the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy, located 42 kilometers northwest of Cosenza.

The town is part of the Comunità Montana Media Valle Crate.

History

Mongrassano already existed in the 12th century as a hamlet of San Marco named Mons Crasanus, Mocrasani, Montegrassano or Magrosani. It was originally divided in two hamlets: Serra di Leo and Mongrassano. Like many other Albanian-origin settlements the urban structure was based on the gijtonia, in other words, circular streets. Either in 1459 or early in the 16th century, another group of Albanian political refugees came and settled in Mongrassano.

On 20 July 1459 the Prince of Bisignano gave the civil jurisdiction of the city to the Bishop of San Marco. In 1642 the Gaetani acquired the territory; in 1688 they sold the property to the Marquesses of Fuscaldo, who held it until the end of the feudal system in 1806. In 1807 Mongrassano became state owned and in 1811 it joined with Serra di Leo. In 1816 it was elevated to the level of a comune, with Serra di Leo as its frazione.

Language and dialect

Officially the inhabitants speak Italian. Traditionally, the dialect is of Albanian origin (Arbëresh), but is spoken by an increasingly restricted number of inhabitants.

Festivals

The patron saint of Mongrassano is Saint Catherine of Siena, but the most important festival in the town is Saint Lucy that occurs during the month of August.

References


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