Amantea

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Amantea
—  Comune  —
Comune di Amantea
View of Amantea on the sea with the Palazzo delle Clarisse.
Coat of arms
Amantea Location of Amantea in Italy
Coordinates: 39°08′N 16°04′E / 39.133°N 16.067°E / 39.133; 16.067
Country	Italy
Region	Calabria
Province	Cosenza (CS)
Frazioni	Acquicella, Camoli, Campora San Giovanni, Coreca
Government
• Mayor	Praefect Commissar since 2008
Area
• Total	28 km2 (11 sq mi)
Elevation	50 m (160 ft)
Population (2007)
• Total	13,704
• Density	490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym	Amanteani
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	87032
Dialing code	0982
Patron saint	St. Anthony of Padua
Saint day	June 13
Website	Official website

Amantea (Greek: Amanthea) is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy.

It is a tourist centre on the southern Tyrrhenian Sea coast.

History

Amantea appears as a centre of its own in the 7th century, although traces of human presence from pre-historical times onwards have been found in the area. In 839 the Arabs captured it, being ousted by the Byzantines in 889. Later it was under Norman domination. In 1269 the Amanteani rebelled against the Angevines in the name of Conradin of Hohenstaufen, but were besieged by the French and defeated.

The town is mostly famous for the long resistance of its inhabitants against the French troops under Joseph Bonaparte who, in 1806-1807, attempted to conquer its castle.

Main sights

• The Rocca (Castle). First built by the Byzantines, it was strengthened by the Arabs. The current cylindrical tower is however to the Norman-Hohenstaufen age. It was long besieged by Charles of Anjou's troops in 1269. It was nearly destroyed during the French siege in 1806-1807. It is now a public structure, but is abandoned.
• Church of San Bernardino.
• Palazzo delle Clarisse (17th century).
• Palazzo Mirabelli (17th century).
• U Turriune (large tower, 14th century) at Campora San Giovanni.
• Archaeological findings in the area of Campora San Giovanni.

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