*** Italian regions south








Italian Regions: The South


Figure 1.--This photo was taken in Samo, a little village in Calabria, the far south-western Italian region. It was taken on Palm Sunday 1938 (April 10th, 1938). In that feast the Catholic Mass begins with the blessing of tree branches. In Italy we bless olives trees branches. After the Mass the people bring home a blessed branch. In the photo we can see two women and a girl. The girl is wearing a simple dress and goes barefoot. We can assume that she also attended the Mass barefoot and probably that she didn't own any footwear.

Southern Italy is referred to as the the Mezzogiorno in Italy. It is not as familar to many as the north where more tourists visit. The cultural influences in southern Italy are somewhat different than in the north. The Greek influence is strongest in the south and there are several important Greek ruins. Naples was founded as a Greek colony. There are also northern African influences. The south is more agricultural than northern and even central Italy and until after World War II, was almost feudal. Southern Italy has historically lagged behind the northern in literacy, income, economic development, and other indicators. The geography of the south gives the Italian peninsula its well-known boot image. Southern Italy is commonly seen as regions that correspond to the geopolitical extent of the historical https://histclo.com/royal/ita/states/is-nap.htmKingdom of Naples (under different names)nthe Two Sicilies, including Abruzzo, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, and Sicily. What oyther countries call provinces, the Italians call regions. (Provinces are second level adminstrative units. Each Italian region is divided into provinces.) Naples and the south have historically been associated with Sicily and for many years organized into the Kingdom of the Two Siclies. The best known and most populous region of southern Italy is Campania. The modern region has a population of around 6 million people. Thus it is the second-most-populous region of Italy and the most densely populated region in the country. It is located around Naples along southwesern coast of Italian Peninsula. The Tyrrhenian Sea off shoot of the Mediterrannean is located to the west.

Abruzzo


Apulia


Basilicata


Calabria

Calabria is southern-most Italian mainland region, best described as the 'toe' of the Italian boot-shaped peninsula. Calabria is a peninsula of its own, jutting out to the south west toward Sicily to which it is linked geologically. Calabria physically separates the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. Most of the region is mountainous or hilly terrine not supportive of intensive agriculture and creating cooler temperatures from the warmer coasts. . There are lowlands lowlands in the Crati River valley near Sibari, the Marchesato (territory) near Crotone (Crotona) of Sant'Eufemia, and of Gioia Tauro. In the north, Calabria is linked to Apennine Range by the Mount Pollino massif (2,248 meters). From there the west coast range continues south. it is separated by the Crati River from the important La Sula massif (1,928 m). An isthmus between the gulfs of Sant'Eufemia (west) and Quesadilla (east) separate the northern and southern sections of the region. The uplands continue as the Apennines Calaboose and culminate in the extreme southern tip as the Promontory massif at Mont alto (1,956 m). Calabria was the location of major Greek colonization, including Crotona, Sybarites, and Rhenium (Reggie DI Calabria). The Greek period was the golden age of Calabria. Colonization began (8th century BC). Rome eventually conquered the area, first founding a colony at Brundisium (Brindisi) (246 BC) and captured Tarentum (Taranto) (209 BC). It became the Roman province of Ager Bruttius. The province declined into a remote provincial outpost of Rome with limited importance. The Greek geographer Strabo reported that there were 13 well-to-do cities (1st century BC), but over time only the ports of Tarentum and Brundisium thrived. The wool trade was of some importance. Pasturing sheep was possible in hilly terrain where agriculture was difficult. The Byzantines controlled it for five centuries as the Duchy of Calabria. Under Byzantine rule, Calabria regained its Hellenic character. Monasticism and hermitages appeared and many churches were built. The most spectacular was Cattolica di Stilo. It is in Calavria that Greco-Calabrian Basilian monks dedicated themselves to the transcription of classical and religious texts, much like the Irish monasteries, saving countless ancient works. It was the Byzantines who wrestled the secret of silk from China. Calabria became a center of silk production. Catanzaro became the main silk production center in Europe during the medieval era. The Norman conquest of Calabria began the gradual Latinization of the region. Along with the rest of Southern Italy, Calabria became part of the Spanish controlled Kingdom of Naples (under various names). As with Spain itself, the region declined into a European backwater. Calabria is where Montgomery's British Eighth Army landed largely unopposed as part of the Allied invasion of Italy (September 1943). The Allies hoped that the Germans would rush forward leaving Naples undefended, but Field Marshall Kesserling did not take the bait, even when the British seized the port of Taranto. The fight for the south and prize of Naples would be at Salerno. Today tourism is becoming importnt in Calabria, offering a warm climate, glorious coast, and impressive architectural treasures from its fascinating history.

Campania

The best known and most populous region of southern Italy is Campania. The modern region has a population of around 6 million people. Thus it is the second-most-populous region of Italy and the most densely populated region in the country. It is located around Naples along southwesern coast of Italian Peninsula. The Tyrrhenian Sea off shoot of the Mediterrannean is located to the west. The Flegrean Islands and Capri are administratively part of the region.

Molise










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Created: 8:05 PM 8/5/2009
Last updated: 8:05 PM 8/5/2009