Province of Potenza

Province of Potenza
Nation  Italy
Region Basilicata
Capital(s) Potenza
Area 6,545 km2
Population (2008) 387,107
Density 59.1 inhab./km2
Comuni 100
Vehicle Registration PZ
Postal Code 85010-85018, 85020-85040, 85042-85044, 85046-85059
Telephone Prefix 0971, 0972, 0973, 0975, 0976
ISTAT 076
President Pietro Lacorazza
Executive Democratic Party
Potenza posizione.png
Map highlighting the location of the province of Potenza in Italy

The Province of Potenza (Italian: Provincia di Potenza) is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Potenza.

It has an area of 6,545 km² and a total population of 387,107 (2008). There are 100 comuni (singular: comune) in the province (see Comuni of the Province of Potenza).

In 272 BCE the province was conquered by the Greek army. The new rulers renamed Basilicata as Lucania. Later in the 11th century, the area became part of the Duchy of Apulia, which was at the time ruled by the Norman French and from the 13th century part of the Kingdom of Naples. However, in reality Potenza was ruled by local warlords. In 1861 the province was unified with the rest of Italy in the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.

The region has suffered from innumerable earthquakes and is still a seismically active area. The town of Potenza, the highest provincial capital above sea level in Italy, is built between two valleys. The town was mostly rebuilt after the 1857 Basilicata earthquake. Thus the earthquakes and the severe damage caused during World War II have deprived the town of many of its historical buildings. Consequently the overall impression of the town is one of modern concrete buildings. One beautiful church that survives is the church of San Francesco just off the main piazza, the "Piazza Pagano." Among the church's treasures is the Byzantine icon of the Madonna del Terremoto. One other place of interest in the town is the "Museo Archeologico Provinciale," which contains many artefacts from the times of the Romans in Basilicata.

External links

See also