San Donato di Ninea
San Donato di Ninea: discovering the Calabrian town
If you're looking for a small rustic town surrounded by nature, San Donato di Ninea is the perfect place for you! With its 1,100 inhabitants and privileged location in the province of Cosenza, in Calabria, San Donato di Ninea will enchant you with its breathtaking landscapes and ancient history.
Physical geography
San Donato di Ninea is located in the upper basin of the Esaro River, in the mountain reclamation area. Its territory extends four-fifths in the mountains and the rest in the pre-mountain area. The capital is located on a rocky spur at the foot of Cozzo del Pellegrino, the highest peak in the territory of San Donato. The view from above is a wonder to behold, with the Campotenese plateau in front of the mountains of the Pollino Massif. The altitude of the territory varies from 1,987 meters of Cozzo del Pellegrino to 180 meters above sea level. Mount La Mula, 1,935 meters high without any communication route, makes it difficult to connect with the neighboring municipalities located on the western slope of the Mula.
The economy of the town is based on agricultural products such as cereals, fruit and olives, but also on cattle, sheep and pig breeding. There are also small industries that produce leather and wicker products, and artisan workshops specialized in the woodworking and preserving sector.
Origin of the name
The current name of the municipality recalls Ninea, an ancient city founded by the Enotri and immediately "Hellenized". According to the description of the Greek geographer Hecataeus of Miletus, the city is traditionally located in the territory of San Donato. In 1863, the town council decided to change the name to avoid any confusion with other homonymous municipalities. The name San Donato di Ninea was then officially adopted by royal decree in 1864.
History
The history of San Donato di Ninea dates back to the Middle Ages. The name "San Donato" first appears in a diploma of July 1100 in which the Abbey of Santa Maria della Matina is mentioned. In 1276, San Donato, with a population of 464 inhabitants, was enfeoffed to Filippo Breton (or "Bridone"). In 1351, it passed under the feudal rule of the Sangineto, counts of Altomonte and Corigliano Calabro, and in 1374 to the Sanseverino family of Chiaromonte and Tricarico. In 1510, Bernardino Sanseverino granted San Donato and Policastrello in fief to Francesco Sanseverino, Baron of Calvera, thus giving rise to the branch of the Sanseverino Dukes of San Donato.
The Sanseverino domination
In the sixteenth century, San Donato lived its period of greatest splendor under the Sanseverino domination. The fief of San Donato was in fact granted to the Sanseverino by the last male son of Bernardino, both for the military merits acquired in the Albanian campaign and through the dowry that Maria Aragona, his wife, had brought as dowry. The Sanseverino family transformed San Donato into a pearl of architecture and art, enriching it with palaces, churches and castles. Over the centuries, San Donato became one of the strongest fiefs in the province of Cosenza, until the death of the last heir of the Sanseverino in 1654, Anna, only nine years old. The fief was then taken over by the Royal Court of Naples.
Conclusion
San Donato di Ninea is a place that will stay in your heart for its beauty and historical charm. Take advantage of a visit to the Calabrian territory to immerse yourself in nature and breathe in the ancient atmosphere of San Donato di Ninea.
