Lamezia Terme
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LAMEZIA TERME

Piana Lametina faces the Tyrrhenian coasts of Calabria, flowing into the S. Eufémia Gulf.

History

Lamezia Terme is a recent enough toponym, being a municipality which came about in 1968 by the aggregation of Nicastro, Sambiase and Sant'Eufemia Lamezia.

The most important history relates to the capital town of Nicastro, the ancient Neócastrum (new castle) of Byzantine origin.
The centre was founded during the time of Saracen raids (IX-X century), pushing coastal inhabitants to move to surrounding higher fortified ground.

However, many finds dating back to the Neolithic age and Magno-Greek era (IV century BC) have emerged. Furthermore, after the end of the Roman Empire, Basilian monks arrived in the area in escape from Eastern persecution (VIII century), giving new religious and cultural impulse to the High-Medieval centres in the South.

Shortly afterwards they were joined by Benedictine monks who subsequently constructed the S. Eufemia Abbey (1062) during Byzantine domination.
The centre became an Episcopal seat midway through the IX century.

The area was conquered by the Normans, but Nicastro revolted against Robert Guiscard and his brother Ruggero. Having dominated the revolt, the new nobiliary had the Castle built, which was later restored by Frederick II of Swabia (XIII century), who then imprisoned his rebellious son Enrico (Henry), there.

Under the Angioinians, Nicastro enjoyed the title of Royal Directional City until 1417, when it was granted to the Caracciolo family. The latter ruled it until the Centelles Revolt, after which the village, raised in status to an Earldom (county), passed to the heir of the throne, Frederick of Aragona (1482).
When Frederick ascended to the throne of Naples, he once again conceded Nicastro to the Caracciolo family (1496).

During the XVI century, a defensive system was erected to defend the city from Turkish attacks. Today, only the Bastion of Malta remains (1550).

In 1608, the Earldom was sold to the D'Aquino family, who ruled it until 1799, the year the revolution of the Republic of Naples broke out.

On 27th March 1638, an earthquake hit the Piana Lametina, bringing death and destruction. There were twelve thousand victims and the Norman Cathedral in Nicastro, the S. Eufemia Byzantine Abbey and the Norman Castle collapsed, burying Prince Cesare D'Aquino.
The earthquakes were followed by the plague and floods (1792), distressing the inhabitants of the planes.

The nobility adhered to Republican ideals brought by the French (1799), but the population sided with the Bourbons. Nicastro re-entered as part of the Royal Estate.

Later on, the population adhered to Risorgimental ideals and the Unitarian movements of 1860.

Sambiase came about around the X century, around the San Biagio Monastery from which it takes its name.
In 1482, the village was annexed to the Earldom of Nicastro, from that moment on sharing the same historical and political history.

Sant'Eufemia came about at the the beginning of the XX century on the edges of the railway tracks and in a territory where the land was not well reclaimed.

A visit to the City

Its architectonic and historical patrimony was gravely mutilated by the 1638 earthquake. Only a few ruins remain of the Norman Castle. The SS Pietro and Paolo Cathedral was reconstructed as were many other churches like the Madonna delle Grazie Church, built in 1601, and which in one day, became the oldest church of Nicastro; for this reason it assumed the name of Veterana.

The Palazzo del Seminario Vescovile, now accommodates the premises of the Diocesano Museum, while in Via Garibaldi, one can visit the Archaeological Museum, containing collections of Neolithic and Magno-Greek finds.

Ascending, one can visit the Rione or district of S. Teodoro, where the remains of the Norman Castle lay.
Instead, the Bastion of Malta, is practically perfect. It was part of the defensive structure built on the wishes of Pietro di Toledo in 1550, to defend the planes from Turkish attacks.

The Caronte Thermal Baths, dating back to the II century AD, can be found in Sambiase.

Place of interest

- Cattedrale dei SS. Pietro e Paolo (1640)
- Ruderi del Castello Normanno
- Bastione di Malta (1550)
- Palazzo del Seminario Vescovile
- Chiesa di S. Teodoro (XIV sec.)
- Chiesa della Veterana o Madonna delle Grazie (1601)
- Chiesa di S. Domenico (1650)
- Chiesa di S. Francesco
- Chiesa di S. Pancrazio (XVII sec.)
- Chiesa di S. Caterina (XVIII sec.)
- Chiesa di S. Antonio (XVII sec.)
- Chiesa e Convento dei Cappuccini
- Resti dell'Abbazia benedettina di S. Eufemia (1062), località Terravecchia
- Badia dei S.S. Quaranta
- Rovine della città greca di Terina
- Aquae Angae, terme romane
- Piana Archeologica di S.Eufemia
- Teatro Grandinetti
- Teatro Umberto
- Torri costiere
- Resti dell'abbazia di S. Maria di Corazzo

Museums

- Museo Archeologico, via Garibaldi
- Museo Diocesano, Palazzo del Seminario Vescovile
- Luogo della Memoria in Largo Ferruccio 3, Sambiase di Lamezia Terme
- Piccolo Museo del Tirion, Bastione di Malta
- Parco Letterario Costabile, Municipio

Events

- Fieragricola in Sambiase tra gennaio e febbraio
- Fiera di San Biagio a inizio febbraio
- Fiera di Sant'Antonio il 12, 13, 14 giugno, Quartiere Nicastro
- Fiera di San Francesco di Paola a fine maggio, inizio giugno, quartiere Sambiase
- Festa di San Pietro e San Paolo il 27, 28, 29 giugno.

LAMEZIA TERME
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