Sant'Anastasia
Sant'Anastasia: an ancient town in Campania
Sant'Anastasia is a town in the Campania region with a population of 26,011, located in the Metropolitan City of Naples, northeast of the city. The territory of Sant'Anastasia is an oasis of peace near Mount Vesuvius, included in the wine and food itinerary of the Strada del Vino Vesuvio and typical Vesuvian products. Below, we will delve into the geographical and historical features of the Campanian town.
Physical geography
Territory
The center of Sant'Anastasia is located at the foot of Mount Somma, an ancient crater of Vesuvius, in an environment that alternates small hills and descents. Although the municipal area is relatively small (less than 19 km²), the territory is particularly diversified, showing a strip of land ranging from 34 meters above sea level to the north (Guadagni hamlet) up to 1,131 meters above sea level to the south (Punta Nasone).
Hydrography
Sant'Anastasia is rich in streams called "Lagni", which repopulate their sites only during rainy periods. Among the most important waterways are the Sebeto and Vesceri. Two Olivella sources (lower and upper) are unique throughout the Vesuvius National Park for their scarcity of water.
Climate
The climate of Sant'Anastasia is typically Mediterranean and does not differ significantly from that of nearby Naples. During the winter, the summit of Mount Somma and the surrounding area are often covered in white.
History
Bronze Age
Sant'Anastasia appears to have been inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by some finds discovered north of the town. These finds demonstrate the presence of nomadic tribes that would camp in those places for hunting purposes. In particular, they hunted large animals.
Ancient Rome
Before the massive eruption of AD 79 that destroyed several Vesuvian cities, Vesuvius had remained inactive for a period of eight centuries, and the populations that lived on its slopes did not know that the mountain was an active volcano. For this reason, they developed numerous agricultural and commercial centers.
The first mentions of those places are given by Cicero in his "De Officiis" and by Valerius Maximus in the "Memorabilia". In their accounts, they speak of the dispute between Naples and Nola for the possession of those territories at the foot of Vesuvius. The Roman Senate sent Quintus Fabius Labeo as an arbitrator to resolve the dispute. Labeo decided not to modify the already traced borders and allocated that strip of land to the direct administration of Rome.
This episode, often cited by local historians as the founding act of the Vesuvian territory, has always been controversial. Some believe it to be a legendary fact to attribute themselves "noble origins", while others argue that it never happened. Recently, an article by the professor appeared in the magazine "Summana".
Conclusions
Sant'Anastasia is a charming Campanian town with an ancient and interesting past. If you visit the city, you can enjoy an invaluable view of the Vesuvius range and the opportunity to taste local food and wine products. Furthermore, the history of the town dates back to ancient times, contributing to making this territory even more suggestive and fascinating.
