Montalbano Jonico
Montalbano Jonico: the hill city of Basilicata
Hello friends! Today I want to tell you about Montalbano Jonico, a beautiful city with 6,689 inhabitants located in the province of Matera, in Basilicata. The municipality received the honorary title of city in 2009 from the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano.
Physical geography
Territory
Montalbano Jonico is located at 292 meters above sea level in the southwestern part of the province, between the Cavone and Agri rivers. It borders Pisticci, Scanzano Jonico, Tursi, Craco and Stigliano. The territory is mostly hilly, characterized by the presence of badlands. However, the presence of predominantly clayey soil has made the area subject to landslides that have created several problems for the population.
Climate
The climate of Montalbano Jonico is characterized by average temperatures ranging from 7.4 °C in January to 25.5 °C in August. The city falls within climatic zone C and has a degree day of 1392.
Origin of the name
The original name of the city, "Mons Albanus", probably derives from the gentilic "Albius", widespread in Southern Italy during the Republican Age. Another hypothesis suggests that the name derives from the Latin words "mons" (mountain) and "albius" (clear), due to the clays that compose the territory. Finally, the possible origin from the Arabic "Al bana", meaning "excellent place", cannot be excluded.
History
The historical origins of Montalbano Jonico are uncertain and perhaps date back to the 4th century BC. It has been ascertained that in the city's territory there was a Bronze Age site in contrada Iazzitelli. The archaeological finds discovered in the inhabited area are from the Hellenistic age. Probably, Montalbano Jonico was an ally of Rome in the Battle of Heraclea, which saw the Roman imperial forces face the allied forces of Epirus to Taranto and led by Pyrrhus. In the Roman Age, the city benefited from transhumance routes and the flourishing of Heraclea, falling within the ambit of Siritide.
The Hellenistic farm of Andriace
Within the territory of Montalbano Jonico lies the Hellenistic farm of Andriace, dating back to the 3rd century BC. The farm was an important production center of the territory and included a facility for the production of olive oil, a cellar and an oven. Its importance is testified by the presence of an aqueduct system that provided water to the farm from the Cavone river.
Conclusions
Here is a brief description of Montalbano Jonico, the hill city of Basilicata. Its history and territory are of great importance and deserve to be discovered and appreciated. If you have the opportunity to visit this beautiful city, don't miss it!
