Polistena (, or ''Polysthénē'') is a ''

comune The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...

'' (municipality) in the

Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria ( it, Città metropolitana di Reggio Calabria) is an area of local government at the level of metropolitan city in the Calabria region of the Republic of Italy. It comprises the territory of the city of Reg ...

in the

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

region Calabria, located about southwest of

Catanzaro Catanzaro (, or ; scn, label= Catanzarese, Catanzaru ; , or , ''Katastaríoi Lokrói''; ; la, Catacium), also known as the "City of the two Seas", is an Italian city of 86,183 inhabitants (2020), the capital of the Calabria region and of its p ...

and about northeast of Reggio Calabria. Polistena borders the following municipalities:

Anoia Anoia () is a comarca (county) in central Catalonia, Spain, with its capital at Igualada. The comarca of l'Anoia is irrigated by the Anoia River; the leading industry is the making of paper. To the north are Solsonès and Bages, to the west, ...

Cinquefrondi Cinquefrondi ( Calabrian: or ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about southwest of Catanzaro and about northeast of Reggio Calabria. Cinquefrondi borders th ...

Cittanova Cittanova is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about southwest of Catanzaro and about northeast of Reggio Calabria. Located on the slopes of Aspromonte and facing t ...

Melicucco Melicucco () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about southwest of Catanzaro and about northeast of Reggio Calabria. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 5,024 and ...

San Giorgio Morgeto San Giorgio Morgeto ( Calabrian: or simply ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about southwest of Catanzaro and about northeast of Reggio Calabria. As of 31 December 200 ...

History

Of uncertain historical origins, Polistena territory was inhabited since

prehistoric times Prehistory, also known as pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the use of the first stone tools by hominins 3.3 million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use of ...

. From the remains found, it appears to be the territory of transit of the Locresi during their ancestral migration. A village with the modern name is mentioned for the first time in the 13th century AD. In 1783 Polistena was devastated by a violent earthquake, that razed to the ground most of the city and killed more than 2,000 people. The city was rebuilt quickly, basing on a design by Neapolitan architect Pompeo Schiantarelli, creating an urban center in the upper part of the city.

Main sights

The ''Monument to the Fallen'' (Monumento ai Caduti) is located in Piazza del Popolo, and was sculpted by Francesco Jerace. The Palazzo Avati is located in the same square. In its facade is a portal where there is an Apotropaica mask.

Twin towns — sister cities

Polistena is twinned with: *

Anzola dell'Emilia Anzola dell'Emilia ( Western Bolognese: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Bologna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about northwest of Bologna. It is an important area of industries and Habanero's crops near ...

, Italy

People

* Fra' Girolamo Marafioti * Francesco Jerace *

Ferdinando Adornato Ferdinando Adornato (born 11 May 1954) is an Italian politician and journalist. Biography On 8 June 1994, he founded and led the group ''Area'', "an area of programmatic comparison ... inspired liberal, Christian and environmentalist ... elemen ...

Mimmo Calopresti Mimmo Calopresti (born 4 January 1955 in Polistena, Calabria) is an Italian film director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He has directed 16 films since 1987. His film ''The Second Time'' was entered into the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. Sele ...

Franco Anile Francesco Anile (born 12 February 1962 in Polistena) is an Italian tenor. He regularly sings in Italy and abroad, performing in theatres such as the Teatro Massimo in Palermo and San Carlo in Naples. ''Turandot'', '' Norma'' and ''Otello'' ar ...

Franco Macri Francesco Raùl Macri (15 April 1930 – 2 March 2019) was an Italian-Argentine contractor, developer, industralist and father of former Argentine President Mauricio Macri. Life and career Childhood in Italy Macri was born in Rome, to Giorgio Ma ...

References

External links

Official website

www.polistena.net
Cities and towns in Calabria {{Calabria-geo-stub