Frazioni Carnello Demonym(s) Sorani Area 71 km² | Elevation 300 m (1,000 ft) Time zone CET (UTC+1) Postal code 03039 | |
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Weather 8°C, Wind SE at 3 km/h, 75% Humidity | ||
Sora ([ˈsɔːra]) is a town and comune of Lazio, Italy, in the province of Frosinone. It is built in a plain on the banks of the Liri. This part of the valley is the seat of some important manufactures, especially of paper-mills. The area around Sora is famous for the costumes of its peasants.
Contents
- Map of 03039 Sora Province of Frosinone Italy
- History
- Geography
- Main sights
- Notable people
- Twin towns
- References
Map of 03039 Sora, Province of Frosinone, Italy
History
Sora, an ancient Volscian town, was thrice captured by the Romans, in 345, 314 and 305 BCE, before they managed, in 303, by means of a colony 4,000 strong, to confirm its annexation. In 209 it was one of the colonies which refused further contributions to the war against Hannibal. By the lex Julia it became a municipium, but under Augustus it was colonized by soldiers of the legio IV Sorana, which had been mainly enrolled there. It belonged technically to Latium adiectum.
Located in the Ducatus Romanus under the authority of the pope during the early Dark Ages, it was captured by the Lombards of Gisulf I of Benevento in 705.
The castle of Sorella, built on the rocky height above the town, was in the Middle Ages a stronghold of some note. In 1443 King Alfonso of Naples made Sora the seat of an independent Duchy for the Cantelmi; it was afterwards seized by Pope Pius II, but, being restored to the Cantelmi by Pope Sixtus IV, it ultimately passed to the Della Rovere of Urbino. Against Caesar Borgia the city was heroically defended by Giovanni da Montefeltro. It was purchased by Pope Gregory XIII for 11,000 ducats and bestowed under the suzerainty of Gregory's son, Giacomo Boncompagni (who was the first duke of Sora of the family).
Geography
The distance from Sora to centre of Rome is 115 km, heading In the opposite direction the downtown area of Naples is 138 km from Sora.
The municipality, located next to Abruzzo, borders with Arpino, Balsorano (AQ), Broccostella, Campoli Appennino, Castelliri, Isola del Liri, Monte San Giovanni Campano, Pescosolido and Veroli.
Main sights
The original cathedral, consecrated by Pope Adrian IV in 1155, was destroyed by the earthquake of 1634.
Above the town on a precipitous rock, elevation 540 metres (1,770 ft), that guards the Liri's valley and the entrance to the Abruzzi are remains of polygonal walls; here, possibly, was the citadel of the original Volscian town. There are also remains of medieval fortifications.
Among the churches in town are: