Time zone CET (UTC+1) Elevation 365 m Local time Saturday 4:01 AM | Demonym(s) Montesi Postal code 75024 Population 9,959 (2015) | |
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Weather 7°C, Wind NW at 6 km/h, 69% Humidity | ||
Montescaglioso is a town and comune in the Province of Matera, Basilicata, southern Italy.
Contents
- Map of 75024 Montescaglioso Province of Matera Italy
- History
- Territorial abbacy of San Michele Arcangelo di Montescaglioso
- Other sights
- References
Map of 75024 Montescaglioso Province of Matera, Italy
The economy is mostly based on agriculture, including production of renowned oil and wine, as well as traditional food.
Historically, it was the centre of a county in the Norman Kingdom of Sicily.
History
The first settlements in the area date from the 7th century BC, belonging to the Apuli Italic tribe. The original nucleus of Montescaglioso grew substantially in the following centuries, thanks to trade with the nearby Greek town of Metaponto. When the latter decayed in Roman times, Montescaglioso further increased in importance. Archaeological findings include a large tuff wall dating from the 3rd century BC.
After the decline of the Western Roman Empire, Montescaglioso is mentioned first only in early medieval times. A Byzantine stronghold, it was captured by the Normans after the year 1000, and housed an important Benedictine community. Under the Angevin and Aragonese dynasties of the Kingdom of Naples, it belonged in sequence to the D'Avalos, Orsini, Loffredo, Grillo and Cattaneo feudal families.
Territorial abbacy of San Michele Arcangelo di Montescaglioso
The Benedictine Territorial Abbey (i.e. exerting diocesan authority over itself and the surrounding territory, instead of resorting under a bishop) of San Michele Arcangelo, exists at least from 1078 and was probably built in the 5th century. The Norman lord Humphrey of Hauteville and his son Rudolph made large donations to the abbey, which flourished until the 15th century. Afterwards it decayed due to numerous wars ravaging the country in those years. The Abbey Church (12th century), dedicated to St. Michael, has a notable portal and a Norman-style bell tower with mullioned windows. Renewed starting from 1590, it received a cylindrical cupola in 1650.
It lost its autonomous prelature status on 1910.08.05, when it was united (as a mere title) with the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Acerenza–Matera, but since its split the abbacy is united with the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Matera.