Santa Maria Capua Vetere

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

Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Comune
Città di Santa Maria Capua Vetere
The Cathedral.
Coat of arms
Location of Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Location of Santa Maria Capua Vetere in Italy
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Santa Maria Capua Vetere (Campania)
Coordinates: 41°05′N 14°15′E
CountryItaly
RegionCampania
ProvinceCaserta (CE)
FrazioniSant'Andrea dei Lagni
Government
 • MayorAntonio Mirra
Area
 • Total36 km2 (14 sq mi)
Elevation
36 m (118 ft)
Population
 (31 August 2015)[2]
 • Total32,793
 • Density910/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Sammaritani or Mariani
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
81055
Dialing code0823
Patron saintSt. Simmachus and Bl. Vergin Maria Assunta
Saint dayOctober 22 and August 15
WebsiteOfficial website

Though it is not connected with the Civitas Capuana, the town is a medieval place and its proximity 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 Capua Antica.

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.
  • Errico Malatesta was an Italian anarchist, social and political activist, writer and revolutionary.
  • Frank Matano, Italian actor, presenter and voice actor.

Twin towns
  • Murcia, Spain

See also
  • Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli
  • Bishopric of Capua
  • "Santa Maria Capua Vetere" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.
  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
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