San Gennaro Vesuviano
San Gennaro Vesuviano: a welcoming and historic municipality in Campania
San Gennaro Vesuviano is a municipality in the metropolitan city of Naples, in Campania, with a population of approximately 12,036. It is located about 25 km east of Naples and 9 km south of Nola. The territory of the municipality is delimited by Mount Vesuvius and Mount Sant'Angelo and borders the Nola countryside. In this article, we will talk about the physical geography, climate, and history of San Gennaro Vesuviano.
Physical geography
The municipality of San Gennaro Vesuviano is located in seismic area 47.5 (medium-high seismicity) and belongs to climatic zone C, with an average number of ground lightning strikes per year and per km² of 2.5.
History
The Municipality of San Gennaro Vesuviano has an ancient history that dates back to prehistoric times. Recent archaeological discoveries have allowed dating of settlements present in the full Bronze Age, around 2000 BC. However, after a volcanic eruption of Vesuvius, the area remained uninhabited for centuries until new populations began to settle again. In 1631, with a deed drawn up by the Episcopal curia of Nola by Notary Galeota, Scipione Pignatelli, Count of San Valentino Torio, made a rich donation to the Bishop of Nola, Monsignor Fabrizio Gallo, in favor of the Franciscan friars. The Marquis also established the Fair that still takes place annually. The donation to the Franciscan Friars consisted, among other things, of a plot of land in the then territory of Palma Nolana, now Palma Campania, for the creation of a convent and a small attached community. The inhabited nucleus around Cavallerizza and Convent grew up to become, first a district of Palma Nolana, then, from 1841, an autonomous municipality by decree of Ferdinand II of Bourbon.
During the German occupation, there were no episodes of reprisal by the German forces against civilians, but several episodes of livestock seizure by the occupying forces are remembered, with resulting suppression. In addition, there was an execution of a Sangennarese following a denunciation of his wife for mistreatment and a young apprentice who had violated the curfew imposed by the Germans during their retreat. Furthermore, an Allied bombing in the locality of Pozzo Pagnotti caused the death of an entire family and the shooting down of an English fighter (with the consequent death of the pilot) in the countryside adjacent to the current Via Musiello.
Conclusion
San Gennaro Vesuviano is a municipality that has a lot to offer: from the beauty of its territory to its rich history, passing through the Fair still celebrated today. There are not only historic monuments but also natural beauties and a warm and welcoming community. If you have the opportunity to visit it, do not hesitate to do so!
