- San Severo
Infobox CityIT
img_coa = San Severo-Stemma.png
name =San Severo
mapx=41.6
mapy=15.45
region =Apulia
province = Foggia (FG)
elevation_m = 90
area_total_km2 = 333
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 55861
population_density_km2 =167.75
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|41|41|N|15|23|E
frazioni =
telephone = 0882
postalcode = 71016
gentilic = Sanseveresi
saint = Saint Severinus Abbot, Saint Severus Bishop, Maria SS. del Soccorso
day =Monday after third Sunday in May
mayor =
website = [http://www.comune.san-severo.fg.it www.comune.san-severo.fg.it]San Severo is a city and
comune of theprovince of Foggia in the southern Italian region ofApulia .It rises on the foot of the spur of Gargano and is cathedral city since 1580. San Severo has still the ruins of its old fortifications.
History
San Severo was founded in the 11th century around a small church built by the
Benedictine monks fromMontecassino . Its development as trade town was rapid.In 1053 it represented the scene of the historical victory byRoberto il Guiscardo over the papal troops underPope Leo IX (seeBattle of Civitate ). After rising up against the royal authority, it was completely destroyed byEmperor Frederick II in 1233 and was sold to theKnights Templar . After that it became a royal town and seat of the Governor of theCapitanata - ancient name of the province of Foggia - and the province of Molise.In 1579, because of its decline, it was sold to the princess of
Sangro .In 1799 the town was conquered by the French soldiers and destroyed again. The overlordship was inherited from the Benedictine monks of the abbey of
Torremaggiore , theKnights Templars , the Crown ofNaples and the family possessing the Valley of Sangro, the lords of Torremaggiore.In 1627, 1828 and 1851 the town endured several demaging earthquakes.
During
World War II San Severo was the home of a U.S. airbase of theFifteenth Air Force .P-51 fighters of the 31st Fighter Brigade lead the armed escorts and support operations from San Severo onApril 2 ,1944 toMarch 3 ,1945 .San Severo is famous for its yearly festival held on the third Sunday of May. Called "La Festa del Soccorso" (The Festival of Help/Aid), it is held in honor of the patron saints of San Severo, "La Madonna del Soccorso" (The Madonna of Help/Aid), St. Severinus Abbot and Saint Severus Bishop. During this festival, San Severo has plenty of nighttime and daytime fireworks in order to celebrate Our Lady. The daytime fireworks are the biggest attraction. Extremely loud firecracker chains (some which can be termed downright explosive) are placed along the city streets. In many cases they extend for kilometers. A common practice is for young males to run along the firecrackers as they explode down the street. These people are called 'fuejentes' (people who enjoy running through the fireworks)and are proud to keep to this traditional "race through the fireworks" alive. For this reason San Severo is called "the city of fireworks".
Main sights
* Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption ("Santa Maria Assunta") now in Baroque style, housing a valuable 12th century font.
* Mother Church of St. Severino ("Chiesa Matrice di San Severino") - which has conserved part of the Romanesque exterior.
* Church of St. Laurence ("Chiesa di San Lorenzo") in Baroque style.
* Church of Pietà ("Chiesa della Pietà") in Baroque style.
* Palace of the Bishop ("Palazzo del Vescovo").
* Palace of the Seminary (17th century, "Palazzo del Seminario").
* Theatre "Giuseppe Verdi" (1937).Famous people
*
Raimondo di Sangro (1710 – 1771), a learned, eccentric and controversial free-thinker and inventor, became Prince of San Severo. The plantsansevieria is named in honor of him.
*Mario Carli (1888 - 1935), poet, novelist, essayist, diplomat, and journalist.
*Andrea Pazienza (1956 - 1988), comics artist.
*Michele Pazienza (1982), football (soccer) player.External links
* [http://www.travelpost.com/search.aspx?srch=San+severo Travel post:list of cities called San Severo]
References
*
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
