San Mango d'Aquino
San Mango: a Calabrian municipality
Hello! I wanted to talk to you about a beautiful municipality in the province of Catanzaro, in Calabria: San Mango d'Aquino (or Santo Mango). This town has a population of 1434 inhabitants and is located on a hill in the low valley of the Savuto river, on the border with the province of Cosenza.
Physical geography
The town is located on a coastal hill that slopes towards the Savuto river and overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea. The territory mainly consists of clayey soils and borders Martirano Lombardo, Nocera Terinese and Cleto. The altitude of the town is about 460 meters above sea level and its surface area is about 7 square kilometers. The territory rises in altitude from 100 to 1100 meters and the highest peaks are Corvo, Servino, Vetriolo and Costanzo. The main watercourses are the Casale (or Garice or Gavice) and the Giurio stream, to the north, which marks part of the border with Martirano.
The climate in the area is Mediterranean, with high temperatures in summer and mild winters with precipitation concentrated in the winter months and very rare snow. In winter months, humid weather and gusts of wind often occur.
Origin of the name
The town was originally called "Muricello", then "Casale nuovo" and finally "Santo Mango". The feudatory Luigi d'Aquino, in honor of the fiefdom owned by his father Tommaso d'Aquino, prince of Santo Mango in Cilento, chose to name the town "San Mango". The name "San Mango" refers to Magno of Anagni, a pagan who lived in the 3rd century and converted to Christianity, becoming bishop of the archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie. This saint was persecuted by the soldiers of the Roman Emperor and died as a martyr in 252.
The current name can be found inside the mother church, where the statue of San Tommaso d'Aquino, the patron saint of the town, is kept: at the feet of the sculpture, dating back to 1717, one can still read the words: "Universitas Sancti Manghi".
Conclusions
San Mango d'Aquino, with its rich history of traditions and its spectacular geographical location, is a place to visit. The view of the Tyrrhenian Sea from the town is breathtaking and the freshness of the surrounding plateaus offers an ideal alternative for outdoor activities. If you decide to visit, make sure to see the mother church, whose statue of San Tommaso d'Aquino is a masterpiece of art. San Mango d'Aquino has a long and important history, which you can discover by visiting its places of interest and talking to its inhabitants. Bon voyage!
