Mileto

Mileto
—  Comune  —
Comune di Mileto
Church of SS. Trinità.
Coat of arms
Mileto Location of Mileto in Italy
Coordinates: 38°37′N 16°4′E / 38.617°N 16.067°E / 38.617; 16.067
Country	Italy
Region	Calabria
Province	Vibo Valentia (VV)
Frazioni	Calabrò, Comparni, Paravati, San Giovanni
Government
- Mayor	Vincenzo Varone
Area
- Total	34.9 km2 (13.5 sq mi)
Elevation	365 m (1,198 ft)
Population (2007[1])
- Total	7,058
- Density	202.2/km2 (523.8/sq mi)
Demonym	Miletesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	89852
Dialing code	0963

Mileto (Greek: Miletos) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Vibo Valentia in the Italian region Calabria, located about 60 km southwest of Catanzaro and about 6 km south of Vibo Valentia.

Mileto is the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Mileto.

History

According to tradition, the city was founded, not far from the site of the ancient Medama by Greek fugitives from Miletus (Miletos in Greek; hence the name) in Anatolia, which had been destroyed by Darius.

Roger I of Sicily, the last great leader of the Norman conquest of southern Italy, died here of old age. Roger's son and also a Count of Sicily, Simon also died in the town, when he was 12 years old.

In 1807 it was the location of the Battle of Mileto between the French and Neapolitan armies.

Mileto suffered from numerous earthquakes, especially from those of 1905 and 1906, and, although in a less degree, from that of 28 December, 1908, which destroyed Reggio and Messina.

Notable people

• Natuzza Evolo mystic of 20th century

References

1. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.  [1]