Montemilone
Welcome to Montemilone!
Hi everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Montemilone, a small town in the province of Potenza, in Basilicata. With its 1396 inhabitants, this town is located on a raised area that ranges from 320 m above sea level to 351 m above sea level. The territory of Montemilone is surrounded by the Murgia plateau to the east, the Bradanic depression to the south, and the Tavoliere delle Puglie to the north.
The territory and geology of Montemilone
In the valley floor of the town there are deposits of sand and pebbles from the Olocene-Pleistocene era. The rocky substrate consists of sedimentary rocks that date back to the Pontic emergence of the upper Miocene and Quaternary. Among these rocks we find the Irsina conglomerates: reddish yellowish conglomerate rocks mainly in sandstone cement, interspersed with layers of yellowish sandy and silty clay; the sands of Monte Marano: yellow calcareous and quartz sands with thin lenses of pebbles and macrofossils; and the sub-Apennine clays: bluish-gray or yellowish-brown marl and silty clay with traces of echinids and lamellibranchs.
The hydrography of Montemilone
The main hydrographic element of Montemilone is the Locone stream, which is a right tributary of the Ofanto and marks the municipal boundary to the northeast. The Loconcello basin, another tributary of the Locone, occupies a good part of the municipal territory. The southeastern area of the municipality is drained by the Melito valley, while the southwestern area is drained by the San Nicola valley. The latter then divides into the Santa Maria valley (south) and the Cornuta valley (west). The northern part of the municipal territory is related to the basin of the watercourse that crosses the Occhiatello valley - Briganti valley, which in turn is divided into the Cugno Lungo valley (south) and Castagna valley (west). Finally, the Valle dei Greci, located southeast of the built-up area, corresponds to the valley of a minor tributary of the Locone stream.
The origin of the name Montemilone
The toponym Montemilone is already present in the XII century, in the Catalogus baronum. It is composed of Monte and the Latin personal name ''Milo-onis''. In a Greek diploma from 983, the name of ''Monte-Melune'' instead appears as a castle or castrum belonging to the jurisdiction of the bishop of Trani, Rodostamo. According to Giacomo Racioppi, Montemilone would derive from ''meulon'', a diminutive of ''meule'' which indicates piles of hay, straw or clover stacked in the fields. However, several historians derive the name from the Latin ''mons'', mountain, and from the Greek ''meros'', apple, fruit or flock, therefore a mountain full of apples or shepherds.
Conclusions
Montemilone is a town rich in history and natural beauty. Its geographical position makes it a perfect place for nature lovers and for those looking for a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy nature, Montemilone is the place for you!
