Marano di Napoli
Marano di Napoli: Geography and Climate
Marano di Napoli is a municipality located on the Camaldoli hill in the province of Naples, Campania. It covers an area of 15.64 square kilometers and sits at an altitude of 151 meters above sea level, making it one of the most populous areas, with a population of 57,394. The city is located to the northwest of Naples and is about 10 kilometers away from the Asse Mediano and the A56 motorway. Additionally, the Capodichino airport is only ten kilometers away from Marano. The climate of the city is Mediterranean, with long, cool summers and fairly rainy periods due to disturbances from Africa, and mild winters with intense precipitation between October and January. Winter average temperatures are below 10°C, while summer temperatures are around 26°C, but can reach up to 38°C with high humidity levels.
Origin of the Name
The origin of the name Marano is not known with precision, but it is believed to be a land-based toponym derived from a Latin name. It probably comes from late Latin "Marianum," which corresponds to the name "Marius," the owner of a piece of land called "praedium Marianum." Later, the term "di Napoli" was added to distinguish the municipality from other Italian cities with the same name, which were also probably properties of a "Marius."
History
The territory of Marano dates back to the Neolithic period and has shown anthropological traces of settlements dating back about 8,000 years. From the Oscan period, there are mainly traces in the areas of Masseria Spinosa, Vallesana, and Monteleone. However, most of them were destroyed over time, leaving only three visible streets today - Cupa dei Cani, Pendine, and Cupa Orlando. During the Roman period, the area became a crossroads for economic, leisure, and religious activities. It was located on the "Via Consolare Campana," which connected Pozzuoli, an important commercial port during the imperial period, to Santa Maria Capua Vetere, which was, in turn, connected to Rome with the Appian Way. From the Roman period, there is the Ciaurro mausoleum, the most important funeral work in Campania, and five statues depicting a freedman named Dama, his wife Terzia, Hercules, and two Fauns, preserved at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
Conclusion
Marano di Napoli is a historic and populous municipality in Campania, with a rich Roman history that has left its mark. Located on the hills of Camaldoli, it offers a Mediterranean climate with cool summers and relatively mild winters. Its toponym most likely derives from a Latin name, and its strategic location on the "Via Consolare Campana" made it an important place for economic, leisure, and religious activities of the time. Today, Marano di Napoli continues to be a lively and vibrant place in Campania, where history and modernity merge.
