San Fele
Encyclopedia
San Felè is a town and comune
in the province of Potenza
in the Basilicata
region of Italy
.
, Castelgrande, Filiano
, Muro Lucano
, Rapone
and Ruvo del Monte
.
, ordered that a fortress be built in this area to protect against Byzantine incursions. This site was chosen for its defensive advantages. In 969 CE
, the castle-fortress was completed. The constructors of the fortress, being from Venosa
, dedicated the fortress to their protector-saint, Saint Felix (San Felice).
San Felè suffered from substantial emigration in the late 19th century (to North and South America). A large number emigrated to Buffalo, where the number of San Felè expatriates was said to be greater than the number remaining in the town. Descendants of these immigrants in Buffalo stil have a San Felè Society, which holds an annual feast day honoring the town. There was also intense emigration from San Felè after the end of World War II (to Germany, Switzerland, and northern Italy).
, Italy, since 6 April 2010
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:...
in the province of Potenza
Province of Potenza
The Province of Potenza is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Potenza.-Geography:It has an area of 6,545 km² and a total population of 387,107 . There are 100 comuni in the province .-History:In 272 B.C. the province was conquered by the Greek army...
in the Basilicata
Basilicata
Basilicata , also known as Lucania, is a region in the south of Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Apulia to the north and east, and Calabria to the south, having one short southwestern coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea between Campania in the northwest and Calabria in the southwest, and a...
region of Italy
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...
.
Geography
It is bounded by the comuni of Atella, BellaBella
Bella is a city and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Atella, Avigliano, Balvano, Baragiano, Muro Lucano, Ruoti, San Fele.-Translations:...
, Castelgrande, Filiano
Filiano
Filiano is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Atella, Avigliano, Forenza, Ripacandida, San Fele....
, Muro Lucano
Muro Lucano
Muro Lucano is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the region of Basilicata, southern Italy.-History:The town is situated on the site of the ancient Numistri, at the foot of the Apennines, the scene of a battle between Hannibal and Marcellus in the second Punic war.-Main sights:The...
, Rapone
Rapone
Rapone is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Calitri , Castelgrande, Pescopagano, Ruvo del Monte, San Fele....
and Ruvo del Monte
Ruvo del Monte
Ruvo del Monte is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Atella, Calitri, Rapone, Rionero in Vulture, San Fele....
.
History
After the battle of Bovino, Otto I, Holy Roman EmperorOtto I, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto I the Great , son of Henry I the Fowler and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duke of Saxony, King of Germany, King of Italy, and "the first of the Germans to be called the emperor of Italy" according to Arnulf of Milan...
, ordered that a fortress be built in this area to protect against Byzantine incursions. This site was chosen for its defensive advantages. In 969 CE
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
, the castle-fortress was completed. The constructors of the fortress, being from Venosa
Venosa
Venosa is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata, in the Vulture area. It is bounded by the comuni of Barile, Ginestra, Lavello, Maschito, Montemilone, Palazzo San Gervasio, Rapolla and Spinazzola....
, dedicated the fortress to their protector-saint, Saint Felix (San Felice).
San Felè suffered from substantial emigration in the late 19th century (to North and South America). A large number emigrated to Buffalo, where the number of San Felè expatriates was said to be greater than the number remaining in the town. Descendants of these immigrants in Buffalo stil have a San Felè Society, which holds an annual feast day honoring the town. There was also intense emigration from San Felè after the end of World War II (to Germany, Switzerland, and northern Italy).
Twin towns
Muro LucanoMuro Lucano
Muro Lucano is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the region of Basilicata, southern Italy.-History:The town is situated on the site of the ancient Numistri, at the foot of the Apennines, the scene of a battle between Hannibal and Marcellus in the second Punic war.-Main sights:The...
, Italy, since 6 April 2010