- Nocera Inferiore
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Nocera Inferiore — Comune — Comune di Nocera Inferiore 
Coat of armsLocation of Nocera Inferiore in Italy
Nocera InferioreCoordinates: 40°45′N 14°38′E / 40.75°N 14.633°E Country Italy Region Campania Province Salerno (SA) Frazioni Cicasesi, Merichi, Vescovado, Casolla, San Mauro Government - Mayor Raffaele Cannizzaro Area - Total 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi) Elevation 43 m (141 ft) Population (1 December 2009)[1] - Total 45,868 - Density 2,293.4/km2 (5,939.9/sq mi) Demonym Nocerini Time zone CET (UTC+1) - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2) Postal code 84014 Dialing code 081 Patron saint St. Priscus Saint day May 9 Website Official website 
Locator map within the Province of Salerno
Nocera Inferiore, formerly Nocera dei Pagani, is a town and comune in Campania, Italy, in the province of Salerno, at the foot of Monte Albino, 20 km east-south-east of Naples by rail.
Contents
History
In the period before the Roman supremacy in southern Italy, Nuceria Alfaterna appears to have been the chief town in the valley of the Sarnus, Herculaneum, Pompeii, Stabiae and Surrentum all being dependent upon it. The coins of the town bear the head of the river god. It maintained its allegiance to Rome till 309 BC when it joined the revolted Samnites. There is also an alphabet called nucerino, derived from the Etruscan. In 308 BC it repulsed a Roman attempt to land at the mouth of the Sarnus, but in 307 BC it was besieged and surrendered. It obtained favourable terms, and remained faithful to Rome even after Cannae.
Hannibal reduced it in 216 BC by starvation, and destroyed the town. The inhabitants returned when peace was restored. Even during the Social War Nuceria remained true to Rome, though the dependent towns joined the revolt; after it they were formed into independent communities, and Nuceria received the territory of Stabiae, which had been destroyed by Sulla in 89 BC, as a compensation. In 73 BC it was plundered by Spartacus.
At an early date the city became an episcopal see, and in the 12th century it sided with Innocent II against Roger of Sicily, and suffered severely for its choice. In the 13th century had the name of Nuceria Christianorum (Nocera of the Christians), because a colony of Saracens was introduced by Frederick II in the town of Lucera, formerly known as Nuceria de Apulia.
A small colony of Saracens was actually introduced in the town around the 9th century.
By the end of 15th century, until 1806 had the epithet ("of the pagans", Nuceria Paganorum). Today there is the town of Pagani, which lies about one 1.5 km to the west.
In 1385 Pope Urban VI was besieged in the castle by Charles III of Naples.
Main sights
Helena, the widow of Manfred of Sicily, was imprisoned in the Castle and died here after the battle of Benevento (1268). Here also Urban VI imprisoned the cardinals who favoured the antipope Clement VII. The castle also had like guests the writers Dante Alighieri and Boccaccio.
About three kilometers to the east, near the village of Nocera Superiore, is the circular church of Santa Maria Maggiore, dating from the 6th century. Its chief feature is its dome, ceiled with stone internally, but covered externally with a false roof. It is supported by 40 ancient columns, and in its construction resembles Santo Stefano Rotondo in Rome. The walls are covered with frescoes from the 14th century.
Notable people
- Francesco Solimena, famous painter in the Baroque era
- Jacopo Sannazzaro, famous poet, humanist, and epigrammist
- San Ludovico D'Angiò, canonized on April 7, 1317 by John XXII
- Simone Barone, World Cup-winning footballer
- Raffaele De Martino, footballer
Transportation
Nocera is connected with Naples, Avellino and Salerno by a branch railway.
Notes and References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.See also
External links
Media related to Nocera Inferiore at Wikimedia CommonsCategories:- Cities and towns in Campania
- Communes of the Province of Salerno
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