Frazioni see list Demonym(s) Laurioti Area 175 km² Local time Monday 5:44 PM | Elevation 430 m (1,410 ft) Time zone CET (UTC+1) | |
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Weather 11°C, Wind NE at 14 km/h, 53% Humidity | ||
Lauria is an Italian town and comune of the province of Potenza, in Basilicata, situated near the borders of Calabria. It is a walled town on the steep side of a hill with another portion in the plain below. As of 2015 it had a population of 12,919.
Contents
Map of Lauria, Province of Potenza, Italy
History
The original nucleus of the city appeared probably in the 10th century, near the place where later the Sanctuary of Madonna dell'Armo was edificated. However it seems that monastic activity pre-existed in the area, as Lauria just means the "lavra city". The Castle of Lauria, later attributed to Roger of Lauria, was built by Saracens. In the 12th century Lauria was the seat of a Norman fief, which was held by Gibel and then by his son Richard of Lauria, who died in the battle of Benevento on 1266.
His son Roger of Lauria was a famous admiral of the 13th century.
In 1806 the city was destroyed and the population slaughtered by the French soldiers under general André Masséna, as punishment for having supported the Bourbon kings.
Geography
Located in southern Basilicata and included in the Appennino Lucano - Val d'Agri - Lagonegrese National Park, Lauria is a hill town divided into a pair of wards: the upper one named Castello and the lower one named Borgo. The municipality borders with Castelluccio Superiore, Castelsaraceno, Lagonegro, Laino Borgo (CS), Latronico, Moliterno, Nemoli, Tortora (CS) and Trecchina.
Frazioni
Lauria counts the following hamlets (frazioni) and localities: Acqua delle Donne, Alte Coste, Borgo Seluci, Bivio Seluci, Canicella, Cavallo, Cerase, Cesinelle, Cogliandrino, Gremile, Galdo, Fabbricato, Iacoia, Iacoia di Sotto, Madonna del Carmine, Malfitano, Mazzarella, Melara-Ovo della Vacca, Montegaldo, Pecorone, Piano Cataldo, Piano della Menta, Piano Focara, Pietraferrata, Piscitella, Prestieri, Rosa, Rosa di Sotto, Rosa Molino, Santa Barbara, Santa Filomena, San Giuseppe, Santa Lucia, Seluci, Serino, Seta, Taverna del Postiere, Timparossa, and Timpone di Seluci.
Main sights
Transport
Lauria is not served by a near airport, anyway the nearest airport is Salerno-Pontecagnano 129 kilometres (80 mi) from Lauria. Other airports are Lamezia Terme and Napoli-Capodichino.
The town is served by the A3 motorway Naples-Reggio Calabria, at the exits "Lauria Nord" and "Lauria Sud" and, until the closure in 1979, by the Lagonegro–Castrovillari-Spezzano Albanese railway.