Cirò, Calabria

Cirò
—  Comune  —
Comune di Cirò
Cirò Location of Cirò in Italy
Coordinates: 39°22′50″N 17°03′50″E / 39.38056°N 17.06389°E / 39.38056; 17.06389Coordinates: 39°22′50″N 17°03′50″E / 39.38056°N 17.06389°E / 39.38056; 17.06389
Country	Italy
Region	Calabria
Province	Crotone (KR)
Frazioni	L'Attiva, La Cappella, Santa Venere
Government
– Mayor	Mario Caruso
Area
– Total	70 km2 (27 sq mi)
Elevation	351 m (1,152 ft)
Population (May, 2011)
– Total	3,209
– Density	45.8/km2 (118.7/sq mi)
Demonym	Cirotani
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
– Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	88813
Dialing code	0962
Patron saint	San Francesco di Paola & San Nicodemo
Saint day	April 2

Cirò is a comune and town with a population of 3614 people in the province of Crotone, in Calabria, Italy.

History

There were Bronze Age settlements in the area; fossils have been found and are preserved for eventual exhibition in a museum to be established. The ancient Greeks had a settlement on the sea coast - rudiments of a shrine to Apollo have been found. The town on the hill had its origens before 1000 a.d., but it was greatly expanded after the Saracens started raiding the sea coast. Cirò (known earlier as Psicro) became an important regional center with a castle most of which was constructed between 1300 and 1500; today the castle is in rather bad shape, and should be restored. The administration is attempting to obtain funds and authorization to do so. Until around 1970, the regional court had its seat in Cirò; after the sea coast town split off, much of the administrative functions were transferred there.

Economy

Ciro relies on the production of oil, wine, cereals, citruses, and the intense the breeding of the cattle.

See also

• Cirò wine