Monte Sant'Angelo (Foggiano: Mónde) is a town and comune of Apulia, southern Italy, in the province of Foggia, on the southern slopes of Monte Gargano. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").[3]
Monte Sant'Angelo | |
|---|---|
| Comune di Monte Sant'Angelo | |
Location of Monte Sant'Angelo  | |
Monte Sant'Angelo Location of Monte Sant'Angelo in Italy Monte Sant'Angelo Monte Sant'Angelo (Apulia) | |
| Coordinates: 41°42′N 15°58′E / 41.700°N 15.967°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Apulia |
| Province | Foggia (FG) |
| Frazioni | Marina di Monte Sant’Angelo (Macchia), Ruggiano |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Pierpaolo d'Arienzo |
| Area | |
• Total | 242 km2 (93 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 796 m (2,612 ft) |
| Population (31 March 2024)[2] | |
• Total | 11,160 |
| • Density | 46/km2 (120/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Montanari |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 71037 |
| Dialing code | 0884 |
| Patron saint | St. Michael |
| Saint day | September 29 |
| Website | Official website |
| Official name | The Sanctuary of San Michele |
| Part of | Longobards in Italy: Places of the Power (568–774 A.D.) |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii)(iii)(vi) |
| Reference | 1318-007 |
| Inscription | 2011 (35th Session) |
| Area | 0.31 ha (0.77 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 306.22 ha (756.7 acres) |
History
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2023) |
Monte Sant'Angelo as a town appeared only in the 11th century. Between 1081 and 1103 Monte Sant'Angelo was the capital of a large Norman dominion under the control of Count Henry, who was a vassal of the Byzantine Empire. The grotto which houses the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel where, according to legend, St. Michael appeared in 490, 492 and 493, has been the site of many famous pilgrimages, which started from Mont Saint-Michel. Pope John Paul II visited the sanctuary in 1987.
In the 17th century the city became part of the Kingdom of Naples, to which it belonged until the unification of Italy in 1861.
Main sights
editThe most important attraction of Monte Sant'Angelo is the Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo, built in the 13th century by Charles I of Anjou. On June 25, 2011 the World Heritage Committee added the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo in Monte Sant'Angelo to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Sanctuary is one of the seven groups of historic buildings included in the World Heritage Site "Longobards in Italy. Places of the power (568-774 A.D.)".
Other sights in Monte Sant'Angelo include:
- The Castle, with bastions of different ages. The most ancient part, called Torre dei Giganti ("Giants' Tower") is a pentagonal tower 18 metres (59 ft) high, with walls 3.7 metres (12 ft) thick. Its first recorded historical mention dates to 979. Later it was the residence of Rainulf I of Aversa and the Robert Guiscard, who built the Norman Tower and the Treasure Hall. Emperor Frederick II restored the construction to use it as residence for his mistress Bianca Lancia, while under the Angevins it was used mainly as prison. Later, from 1464 to 1485, the fortress was the residence of the exiled Albanian condottiero Skanderbeg. The castle was largely rebuilt in the late 15th century by Ferdinand I. According to legend, the castle is home to the ghost of Bianca Lancia (popularly known as "Biancalancia"), whose sighs can be heard especially in the winter.[4]
- The Tomb of Rothari (Baptistry of San Giovanni in Tumba), a baptistery dating from the 12th century accessible from the 18th century church of St. Peter. The portal has notable reliefs depicting biblical events.
- The church of Santa Maria Maggiore (11th and 12th centuries). The façade has blind arcades and a baldachin portal with sculpted frames. The interior has a nave and two aisles, divided by columns with sculpted capitals. The walls have Byzantine-style frescoes.
- Pulsano Abbey, at 8 kilometres (5 mi) from the city. It was built in 591 over a Pagan temple and was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1646.
Economy
editMonte Sant'Angelo's economy is still largely based on agriculture and livestock breeding.[citation needed] A certain tourist importance is related to the presence of the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel.
Employment
editThe majority of the working population own farmland, raise cattle, run bakeries, restaurants, or stores. Often stores and businesses are family owned.
The population of Monte Sant'Angelo remains relatively small due to lack of employment in town. Often, young people leave to find work elsewhere. Due to this the majority of the population is retired and elderly.
Transportation
editMonte Sant'Angelo can be reached by road through the Foggia-Monte Sant'Angelo SP.55 provincial road. The SP.89 provincial road passes through the frazione of Macchia.
Climate
edit| Climate data for Monte Sant'Angelo (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.6 (43.9) |
7.0 (44.6) |
10.0 (50.0) |
13.3 (55.9) |
18.4 (65.1) |
23.3 (73.9) |
25.9 (78.6) |
26.5 (79.7) |
20.9 (69.6) |
16.7 (62.1) |
11.6 (52.9) |
7.7 (45.9) |
15.7 (60.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.1 (39.4) |
4.1 (39.4) |
6.7 (44.1) |
9.8 (49.6) |
14.5 (58.1) |
19.1 (66.4) |
21.6 (70.9) |
22.1 (71.8) |
17.0 (62.6) |
13.4 (56.1) |
9.0 (48.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
12.2 (54.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.1 (35.8) |
1.9 (35.4) |
4.2 (39.6) |
6.9 (44.4) |
11.3 (52.3) |
15.6 (60.1) |
18.0 (64.4) |
18.6 (65.5) |
14.3 (57.7) |
10.9 (51.6) |
6.9 (44.4) |
3.4 (38.1) |
9.5 (49.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 46.2 (1.82) |
35.1 (1.38) |
42.6 (1.68) |
43.9 (1.73) |
46.1 (1.81) |
40.2 (1.58) |
27.1 (1.07) |
29.2 (1.15) |
72.9 (2.87) |
56.0 (2.20) |
68.3 (2.69) |
54.7 (2.15) |
562.3 (22.14) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 7.6 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.9 | 5.7 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 8.3 | 8.8 | 76.5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 76.7 | 73.2 | 69.2 | 65.8 | 64.2 | 59.8 | 56.4 | 57.3 | 69.0 | 72.3 | 77.9 | 77.8 | 68.3 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 0.4 (32.7) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
1.0 (33.8) |
3.0 (37.4) |
6.9 (44.4) |
9.8 (49.6) |
10.8 (51.4) |
11.6 (52.9) |
10.9 (51.6) |
8.4 (47.1) |
5.5 (41.9) |
1.9 (35.4) |
5.8 (42.4) |
| Source: NOAA[5] | |||||||||||||
International relations
editMonte Sant'Angelo is twinned with:
San Michele Salentino, Italy (since 2007)
Mont Saint-Michel, France (since 2010)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ All demographics and other statistics from the Italian statistical institute (Istat)
- ^ "Puglia" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ Monte Santangelo – Il castello
- ^ "Monte Sant'Angelo Climate Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
External links
edit- Official website
- News Il giornale di monte
- Gallery of images (in Italian)
- The Castle (in Italian)
- image gallery (in Italian)
- montesantangelo.com – City guide of Monte Sant'Angelo