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| Comune di San Severo | |
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 Municipal coat of arms |
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| Country | Italy |
| Region | Apulia |
| Province | Foggia (FG) |
| Elevation | 90 m (295 ft) |
| Area | 333 km² (129 sq mi) |
| Population (as of 2001) | |
| - Total | 55,861 |
| - Density | 168/km² (435/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 |
| Coordinates | |
| Gentilic | Sanseveresi |
| Dialing code | 0882 |
| Postal code | 71016 |
| Patron | St. Severinus Abbot, Saint Severus Bishop, Maria SS. del Soccorso |
| - Day | Monday after third Sunday in May |
| Website: www.comune.san-severo.fg.it | |
San Severo is a large Apulian town of the province of Foggia, Italy.
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.
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History
San Severo was founded in the 11th century around a small church built by the Benedictine monks from Montecassino. Its development as trade town was rapid. In 1053 it represented the scene of the historical victory by Roberto il Guiscardo over the papal troops under Pope Leo IX (see Battle of Civitate). After risen up against the royal authority, it was completaly destroyed by Emperor Frederick II in 1233 and was sold to the Knights Templar. After that it became a royal town and seat of the Governor of the Capitanata - 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, the Knights Templars, the Crown of Naples and the family posseding 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 the Fifteenth Air Force. P-51 fighters of the 31st Fighter Brigade lead the armed escorts and support operations from San Severo on April 2, 1944 to March 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 saint of San Severo, "La Madonna del Soccorso" (The Madonna of Help/Aid). 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. They are extremely loud firecraker chains (some which can be termed downright explosive), that 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.
- Palace of the Bishop (Palazzo del Vescovo).
- Palace of the Seminary (17th century, Palazzo del Seminario).
Famous people
- Raimondo da Sangro (1710–1771), a learned, eccentric and controversial free-thinker and inventor, became Prince of San Severo.
- Andrea Pazienza (1956 - 1988).
External links
- Travel post:list of cities called San Severo
- Short description of San Severo (Foggia-Apulia-Italy)
- sanseveresi.com - Site on San Severo
References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
