Country Italy Comuni 57 Postal code 62100 Area 2,774 km² Capital Macerata | Region Marche Time zone CET (UTC+1) Telephone prefix 0733 Population 320,263 (30 Nov 2011) Area code 0733 | |
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Colleges and Universities University of Macerata, University of Camerino Points of interest Chiaravalle Abbey - Fiastra, Palazzo Buonaccorsi, Museo della carrozza, Castello Pallotta, Castello della Rancia Destinations Monti Sibillini National, Macerata, Porto Recanati, Recanati, Civitanova Marche | ||
The province of Macerata (Italian: provincia di Macerata) is a province in the Marche region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Macerata. The province includes 57 comunes (Italian: comuni) in the province, see Comunes of the Province of Macerata. Located between the rivers Potenza (Flosis) and Chienti, both of which originate in the province, the city of Macerata is located on a hill.
Map of Province of Macerata, Italy
The province contains, among the numerous historical sites, the Roman settlement of Helvia Recina, destroyed by orders of Alaric I, King of the Visigoths, in 408. The province was part of the Papal States from 1445 (with an interruption during the French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars), until the unification of Italy in 1860. The University of Macerata was formed in the province in 1260 and was known as the University of the Piceno from 1540, when Pope Paul III issued a bull naming it this. The town of Camerino, home to another historical university, is also located in the region.
Cingoli was founded in the province as Cingulum, also known as "The Balcony of the Marche" due to its views of the surroundings. Tolentino was founded by the Romans as Tolentinum, while Recanati is widely known as the birthplace of poet Giacomo Leopardi. Massimo Girotti, an actor, was born in Mogliano in the province of Macerata.
1,459.61 square kilometres (563.56 sq mi) of the province is agricultural land, and 124.95 square kilometres (48.24 sq mi) is urbanised. The two largest comuni are Macerata and Civitanova Marche, both with c. 40,000 inhabitants.