Galeata
Encyclopedia
Galeata is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Forlì-Cesena
in the Italian
region Emilia-Romagna
, located about 70 km southeast of Bologna
and about 30 km southwest of Forlì
.
Galeata borders the following municipalities: Civitella di Romagna
, Predappio
, Premilcuore
, Rocca San Casciano
, Santa Sofia
.
an town of Mevaniola, captured by the Romans
in 266 BC. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire
, the settlement was moved to the modern Galeata. The latter's fortunes in the Middle Ages stemmed from the creation of the powerful Abbey of Sant'Ellero (Hilary of Galeata
), which administrated for centuries the nearby territories, with an army and fortresses of its own.
In the early 15th century, Galeata became part of the Florentine
possessions, belonging to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
until 1860. It was part of the Province of Florence
until 1923, when it was moved to the province of Forlì.
Galeata is the site of some religious foundations, including Santa Maria del Pantano, the Abbey of Sant'Ellero (dedicated to Hilary of Galeata
), and the convent of Santa Maria dei Miracoli.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the Province of Forlì-Cesena
Province of Forlì-Cesena
The Province of Forlì-Cesena is a province in the Emilia–Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Forlì.It has an area of 2,377 km², and a total population of 371,318 . There are 30 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Forlì-Cesena...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
, located about 70 km southeast of Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and about 30 km southwest of Forlì
Forlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
.
Galeata borders the following municipalities: Civitella di Romagna
Civitella di Romagna
Civitella di Romagna is a comune in the Province of Forlì-Cesena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 70 km southeast of Bologna and about 30 km southwest of Forlì....
, Predappio
Predappio
Predappio is a town and comune in the province of Forlì-Cesena, in the region of Emilia-Romagna in Italy, with a population of 6,362. The town is best known for being the birthplace of Benito Mussolini, dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943. Mussolini is also buried at Predappio, and his mausoleum is...
, Premilcuore
Premilcuore
Premilcuore is a comune in the Province of Forlì-Cesena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 70 km southeast of Bologna and about 35 km southwest of Forlì....
, Rocca San Casciano
Rocca San Casciano
Rocca San Casciano is a comune in the Province of Forlì-Cesena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 60 km southeast of Bologna and about 25 km southwest of Forlì.-Geography:...
, Santa Sofia
Santa Sofia, Italy
Santa Sofia is a comune in the Province of Forlì-Cesena in the Italian region Emilia–Romagna, located about 80 km southeast of Bologna and about 35 km southwest of Forlì....
.
History
Galeata's origins are connected to the old UmbriUmbri
The Umbri were an Italic people of ancient Italy. A region called Umbria still exists and is currently occupied by Italian speakers. It is somewhat smaller than the ancient Umbria....
an town of Mevaniola, captured by the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
in 266 BC. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
, the settlement was moved to the modern Galeata. The latter's fortunes in the Middle Ages stemmed from the creation of the powerful Abbey of Sant'Ellero (Hilary of Galeata
Hilary of Galeata
Saint Hilary of Galeata is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. His feast day is May 15....
), which administrated for centuries the nearby territories, with an army and fortresses of its own.
In the early 15th century, Galeata became part of the Florentine
Republic of Florence
The Republic of Florence , or the Florentine Republic, was a city-state that was centered on the city of Florence, located in modern Tuscany, Italy. The republic was founded in 1115, when the Florentine people rebelled against the Margraviate of Tuscany upon Margravine Matilda's death. The...
possessions, belonging to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
until 1860. It was part of the Province of Florence
Province of Florence
The Province of Florence is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. It has an area of 3,514 sq. km and a population of 933,860 in 44 comuni....
until 1923, when it was moved to the province of Forlì.
Main sights
- Palazzo del Podestà (1636). It has a tower preceded by an ancient marble column sporting a Byzantine cross in the same material.
- The Romanesque abbey of Sant'Ellero, located 3 km outside the town. Nearby is another column cleebrating a legendary meeting between St. Hilary and Theodoric the GreatTheodoric the GreatTheodoric the Great was king of the Ostrogoths , ruler of Italy , regent of the Visigoths , and a viceroy of the Eastern Roman Empire...
. The construction bean in 497 AD, but the current structure dates mostly from the 9th-10th centuries. Notable is the portal with capitals showing figures of sirens (symbolizing temptation and sin) and two riding monks with swords (symbolizing prayer and the church's struggle for Christianity). The façade has inside slabs of Byzantine origin. The interior, apart the presbyteryPresbytery (architecture)The presbytery is the name for an area in a church building which is reserved for the clergy.In the oldest church it is separated by short walls, by small columns and pilasters in the Renaissance ones; it can also be raised, being reachable by a few steps, usually with railings....
, was mostly renewed in Baroque style in the 17th century. The cryptCryptIn architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
is supposed to be St. Hilary's original cell, and house his decorated sarcophagus in Greek marble (7th century).
Galeata is the site of some religious foundations, including Santa Maria del Pantano, the Abbey of Sant'Ellero (dedicated to Hilary of Galeata
Hilary of Galeata
Saint Hilary of Galeata is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. His feast day is May 15....
), and the convent of Santa Maria dei Miracoli.
- Church of Santa Maria del Pantano, consecrated in 1295 but most likely far older. It was part of an Augustinian convent. Frescoes from the 14th-15th centuries are now in Mambrini Museum at Pianetto.