Matelica | |
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| Comune di Matelica | |
 Piazza Enrico Mattei | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Matelica  | |
  Matelica Location of Matelica in Italy Show map of Italy Matelica Matelica (Marche) Show map of Marche | |
| Coordinates:43°15′23.71″N13°0′34.54″E / 43.2565861°N 13.0095944°E /43.2565861; 13.0095944 | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Marche |
| Province | Macerata (MC) |
| Frazioni | Balzani, Braccano, Castiglione, Cavalieri, Colferraio, Collepere, Colli, Grimaldi, Mistriano, Pezze, Piane, Poggeto, San Nicola, Terricoli, Valbona, Vinano |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Massimo Baldini (Matelica Futura) |
| Area | |
• Total | 81.1 km2 (31.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 354 m (1,161 ft) |
| Population (31 December 2021)[2] | |
• Total | 9,384 |
| • Density | 120/km2 (300/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Matelicesi |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 62024 |
| Dialing code | 0737 |
| Patron saint | St. Adrian |
| Saint day | 16 September |
| Website | Official website |
Matelica is acomune (municipality) of theProvince of Macerata in theItalian region ofMarche. Located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) southwest ofAncona and 35 kilometres (22 mi) west ofMacerata, it extends over an area of 81.04 square kilometres (31.29 sq mi).
Matelica lies in an ample valley where the Braccano creek joins theEsino river, dominated by the town from an eastern ravine. The valley, roughly in the north–south direction, is delimited on the east and west sides byApennines sub-ranges, whose highest peaks are respectively Mount Gemmo at 719 metres (2,359 ft) andMount San Vicino at 1,479 metres (4,852 ft), compared to the 354 metres (1,161 ft) above sea-level of the city centre.
Matelica borders on the following municipalities:Apiro,Castelraimondo,Cerreto d'Esi,Esanatoglia,Fabriano,Fiuminata,Gagliole,Poggio San Vicino,San Severino Marche.[3]
The climate is dictated by theApennines and, to a lesser extent, by the temperateAdriatic Sea on the east. Consequently, Matelica enjoys a somewhat continental climate with cool winters and hot, dry summers. In winter, Matelica occasionally experiences sub-zero temperatures and snowfall between December and February. Highest summer temperatures can be well above 30 °C (86 °F) in July and August. In keeping with the layout of the valley, the dominant winds are along the north–south direction, those from the south being more frequent but weaker than those from the north.
The first human settlements in the area can be traced to theUmbri andPicentes and date back to the 1st millennium BC. Later, under Roman rule, Matelica became amunicipium (70 BC). Starting from the 5th century AD, it was seat of a bishop, who for a while remained the only authority, after the fall of theWestern Roman Empire. The town was then annexed to theByzantine Empire (552). Destroyed by theLombards in 578, it was subsequently joined to thebishopric of Camerino.[4] From the 9th century, Matelica was under the indirect rule of theHoly Roman Empire (while belonging formally to thePapal States), then becoming a free municipality in 1160. In 1174, it was again obliterated, this time by the army ofChristian I (Archbishop of Mainz). Since then, Matelica remained part of thePapal States (albeit at times under an independent Governor), until theItalian unification (1861), save for the brief Napoleonic occupation.
The old part of town presents an urban structure dating largely from the Middle Ages, and is punctuated by several palazzi and churches from different periods.
Sights in the town include:
Las Rosas, Argentina| International | |
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| National | |
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