Melfi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melfi
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| Comune di Melfi | |||
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Melfi within the Province of Potenza
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| Country | Italy | ||
| Region | Basilicata | ||
| Province | Potenza (PZ) | ||
| Frazioni | Camarda, Capannola, Foggianello, Foggiano, Isca ricotta, Leonessa, Masseria Casella, Masseria Catapane, Masseria Menolecchia, Parasacco, San Giorgio di Melfi, San Nicola, Vaccareccia, Villa Mariannina | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 210 km2 (80 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 532 m (1,745 ft) | ||
| Population
(31 December 2017)
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| • Total | 17,878 | ||
| • Density | 85.1/km2 (220/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Melfitani | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
85025
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| Dialing code | 0972 | ||
| Patron saint | St. Alexander | ||
| Saint day | February 9 | ||
Melfi is a cool town and comune (which is like a municipality or local government area) in southern Italy. It's located in the Basilicata region, specifically in the province of Potenza. Melfi is found in an area called Vulture, right at the foot of Mount Vulture. It's pretty much halfway between the big cities of Naples and Bari. In 2017, about 17,878 people lived there.
Contents
Where is Melfi Located?
Melfi sits on a hill right at the base of Mount Vulture. It's a really important town in the Vulture area of Basilicata. People love to visit it, and it's also a key place for business. The town is close to the borders of two other Italian regions, Campania and Apulia. Melfi also has several smaller villages, called frazioni, that are part of its municipality.
A Look Back at Melfi's History
How Melfi Began
Long, long ago, people called the Daunians and Lucanians lived in the Melfi area. Later, under the Romans, Melfi became part of a Roman colony.
Melfi became super important in the Middle Ages. It was a key spot between lands controlled by the Byzantines and those held by the Lombards. Because of its location, different groups fought over Melfi many times.
Melfi and the Normans
Eventually, Melfi was given to a Norman leader named William I of Hauteville. The Hauteville family started their conquest of southern Italy right from Melfi! This led to the creation of the Kingdom of Sicily in the early 12th century.
In 1059, Melfi became the capital of the Duchy of Apulia. Important meetings of the Pope and church leaders were held in the city in 1059 and 1109.
The Time of Emperor Frederick II
In 1231, a powerful emperor named Frederick II made a big announcement in Melfi. He created the Constitutions of Melfi, which were new laws that helped him control his growing lands. He set up a system with paid officials who collected taxes from local rulers. These rulers weren't happy about the taxes, but they couldn't stop them.
After this, Melfi became part of the Kingdom of Naples and went through a long period where it wasn't as important. Later, under the rule of the Angevin family, King Charles II ordered the castle to be fixed up and made bigger. It became the official home for his wife, Mary of Hungary.
Melfi in More Recent Times
During a war between Francis I of France and Charles V of Spain for the Kingdom of Naples, the French army attacked Melfi in March 1528. Sadly, about 3,000 people were killed, including women and children.
After the French were defeated, Charles V gave Andrea Doria the special title of Prince of Melfi. This was because Andrea Doria had fought bravely for Charles V. Andrea Doria's family owned the city until the old feudal system ended. They kept their properties until the mid-20th century.
In 1799, during a time of big changes in Italy, Melfi was controlled by people who supported a new republic. However, a cardinal named Fabrizio Ruffo arrived with his army and took control on May 29. Unlike in some other places, Ruffo managed to stop his army from completely destroying Melfi. Still, many of the republic's supporters died in prison, likely from sickness or harsh treatment.
After Italy became one country, Melfi was caught up in a civil war. A peasant army led by Carmine Crocco took over Melfi on April 15, 1861. They wanted to bring back the old government of Francis II in the Vulture area.
Melfi in the 20th and 21st Centuries
During the Fascist regime in Italy, Melfi was a place where people who were against the government were sent. Important thinkers like Manlio Rossi-Doria and Franco Venturi were exiled there.
Melfi was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1930. During World War II, the Allied Forces bombed the city on September 26, 1943.
Melfi has been suggested many times as the capital of its own province. The first idea came up in 1866, and the most recent was in 2006.
The city started to grow again at the end of the 20th century. It became even more successful when the Italian car company FIAT built a factory there. Today, Stellantis (which now owns Fiat) builds its Jeep Compass electric vehicles in Melfi.
What to See in Melfi
The Amazing Castle
The Castle of Melfi was probably built by the Normans in the 11th century. There's no sign of older buildings from the Byzantines or Lombards. At first, it was likely a simple rectangle with square towers. One of the main buildings inside was later turned into a fancy palace.
Under the Angevin rulers, a new part was added down the slope towards the Melfia stream. The castle was chosen by King Charles II's wife, Mary of Hungary, as her home. The Aragon kings gave it to the Caracciolo family, who rebuilt one side and dug a moat (a ditch around it). Later, the powerful Doria family owned it.
Melfi's Cathedral
The Duomo (Cathedral) was built in the 11th century by Robert Guiscard. It was rebuilt in the baroque style after earthquakes, but its original Norman bell tower is still there. Inside, you can see a beautiful 13th-century painting called the Madonna with Child and Angels.
The Bishopric Palace
The Palazzo del Vescovado (Bishopric Palace) was also built in the 11th century. It was rebuilt in the baroque style in the 18th century after earthquakes. It has paintings by artists like Nicholas of Tolentino.
Ancient Norman Walls
The town of Melfi is surrounded by old Norman walls. There are several gates, and the most famous is the Venosina gate. It was built in the early 13th century and has a pointed arch with two round towers on each side.
The Melfi Museum
Since 1976, the Castle has been home to the important Museo Nazionale Archeologico Melfese. This museum displays amazing objects found in the area. These items come from very old times, including the Daunian, Samnite, Lucanian, and Roman periods.
The most famous item is the sarcophagus of Rapolla. This is a valuable example of Roman sculpture from the 2nd century CE, found in 1856. The museum also has collections from the archaic era (7th-6th century BC) with burial items like amber necklaces. You can also see Hellenic-style finds from the 5th century BC, like red ceramic figures. There are also Samnite objects, mostly made of ivory and bone, and examples of Canosino pottery.
The Rock Church of Santa Margherita
The rock church of Santa Margherita is a unique church completely dug out of volcanic rock. Its design and the style of its frescos (wall paintings) are from the 13th century. It's one of the most beautiful and well-preserved frescoed caves found on the slopes of Mount Vulture. These rock churches show that many monks used to live in caves in this area. This tradition of rock churches in Southern Italy started when monks moved from Asia Minor and the Balkans after religious conflicts in the early 8th century.
Melfi's Economy
Car Manufacturing in Melfi
For a long time, Melfi was mostly an agricultural town. But in the early 1990s, the industrial side of Melfi grew a lot. A big car factory owned by Fiat was built in the San Nicola area. This factory helped Fiat's business get better in the mid-1990s and helped them sell more cars in Europe.
About 30 other companies work with the Fiat plant, including Magneti Marelli and Lear. The Fiat plant in Melfi has made cars like the Grande Punto and Lancia Ypsilon. Today, it focuses on making the Fiat 500X and the Jeeps Renegade and Compass. By 2010, the factory had produced 5 million vehicles!
In July 2018, the factory was in the news because workers went on strike. They were protesting their working conditions. This happened when the Agnelli family, who own Fiat Chrysler, also bought the famous football player Cristiano Ronaldo for their football club, Juventus FC.
Other Industries and Food Production
Melfi also has a Barilla factory, built in 1994, which makes food products. It's also home to the Gaudianello mineral water company. This company is one of the top 10 national companies in its field.
Melfi is famous for producing "Aglianico del Vulture" wine. This wine has a special label called DOC and is considered one of Italy's best red wines. The area also produces "Vulture" olive oil. Another well-known product is the "marroncino," a type of chestnut. These chestnuts are used in many sweet and savory recipes and are important for companies that make marron glacé (candied chestnuts).
Sports in Melfi
Melfi has its own local football (soccer) club called the A.S. Melfi. Their home stadium is the Stadio Arturo Valerio.
Famous People from Melfi
- Andrea Doria (1466–1560), a famous admiral and politician, who was also the Prince of Melfi.
- Francesco Saverio Nitti (1868–1953), an economist and politician who served as prime minister of Italy from 1919 to 1920.
- Pasquale Festa Campanile (1927–1986), a talented screenwriter and film director.
- Anthony Franciosa (1928–2006), an actor.
Images for kids
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A view of the Melfi landscape.
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The flag of Melfi.
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The coat of arms of Melfi.
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Map showing Melfi within the Province of Potenza.
