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 Regions in Italy : Region Campania : Province Salerno: Ascea
Salerno in Campania

Ascea (SA)

Region Campania, Italy

The small town of Ascea rises on a hill divided by a fjord from the commune of Pisciotta; 4 km away, along the coast, is the frazione of Marina di Ascea, a fine seaside resort with a Blue Flag award, full of tourist villages and hotels. Part of the territory is included in the National Park Cilento - Valle di Diano.

INFO: Altitude: 225 a.s.l -- Population: ca. 5500 inhabitants -- Zip/postal code: 84046 -- Phone Area Code: 0974 -- Patron Saint: San Nicola celebrated on 6th December; at Marina di Ascea the Madonna di Portosalvo, celebrated every 27th August -- Frazioni & Località: Baronia, Catona, Mandia, Marina di Ascea, Salice, Stampella, Terradura, Velia -- Official Website: http://www.comune.ascea.na.it/

HISTORY: Greek historian Strabo spoke about Elea in his book Geografia (VI, 252), stating it was founded by refugees from the town of Phocaea in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) which in 545 BC was sieged by the Persians. The name of the new settlement was in the founders' language Hyele, and the initial aspirated consonant changed to "v" (a letter the Greeks did not have) which explains the double name of Elea for the Greeks and Velia for the local people. The pre-Socratic philosophical school called Eleatic rose in this town.

The town, with the name of Velia, was included in the Roman republic in 273 BC, as part of the Lucania province. Another importat historical event was the appointment of general Bartolomeo Alfredo dei Borboni nicknamed Terradura as marquis of the area in 1703; the marquis built a fortress, and kept a remarkable army, which in 1860 sided with Garibaldi fighting for the unity of Italy.

WHAT TO SEE
  • the ruins of Elea - Velia: the city was surrounded by walls with several towers for a total length of about 5 km; the square bricks used in large portions have two rectangular channels on one side, and bear Greek stamps; the excavations have identified different areas: the Harbour, the 2 gates called Porta Marina and Porta Rosa, the hellenistic Thermae, the Roman Thermae, the Agorà, the Acropolis, the Southern Quarter and the Archaic Quarter. There are also remains of cisterns, a Greek amphitheatre and other buildings. The place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    • Map of Ascea:
    (use the zoom to enlarge and the arrows or your mouse pointer to move around or switch to hybrid, map or satellite view) or OPEN MAP IN LARGER WINDOW

    		 
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