Muro Lucano
—  Comune  —
Comune di Muro Lucano
Panoramic view
Muro Lucano Location of Muro Lucano in Italy
Coordinates: 40°45′N 15°29′E / 40.75°N 15.483°E / 40.75; 15.483
Country	Italy
Region	Basilicata
Province	Potenza (PZ)
Frazioni	Capodigiano, Casale San Giuliano, Le Marze, Pontegiacoia, Raitiello
Government
• Mayor	Gerardo Mariani
Area
• Total	125 km2 (48 sq mi)
Elevation	600 m (2,000 ft)
Population (2009[1])
• Total	5,812
• Density	46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Demonym	Muresi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	85054
Dialing code	0976
Patron saint	St. Gerard Majella
Saint day	September 2
Website	Official website

Muro Lucano is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the region of Basilicata, southern Italy.

History [link]

The town is situated on the site of the ancient Numistri, at the foot of the Apennines, the scene of a battle between Hannibal and Marcellus in the second Punic war.

Main sights [link]

The town has a cathedral; and it was in its castle that Queen Joan of Naples was murdered on the orders of her adopted son Charles III of Naples.

Geography [link]

Overview [link]

The town of Muro Lucano is composed of the old town and the surrounding quarters of Cappuccini to the north, and Giardini (meaning gardens) to the south. It is 51 kilometres from Potenza, the chief town of the province. Muro Lucano rises 650 metres above sea level, occupies a surface area of 125.7 square kilometres and in 2005 had a population of approximately 6,000. The population, which was over 10,000 in the 1950s, has been shrinking steadily through the years due to social changes, lack of local work and heavy emigration. There are about 2,200 families with an average of close to 2.7 people per family.

The territory of the municipality lies between 300 and 1450 metres above sea level. The town lies on a slope over the Muro ravine, with picturesque houses built on terraces. The name of the town comes from the medieval wall (in Italian muro) that surrounded the medieval centre.

Dialect [link]

The town's dialect is called Murese. This dialect is exclusive to the town and is often unintelligible to Italian speakers. It is believed to have originated from the Oscan language.

Notable people [link]

• Antonio Rosario Mennonna
• Gerard Majella
• Joseph Stella
• Cristian Zaccardo ^[2]
• Anne Bancroft ^[3]
• Ron Galella ^[4]

Twin towns [link]

• Contursi Terme, Italy

References [link]

External links [link]

Media related to Muro Lucano at Wikimedia Commons