Banzi

Banzi is a municipality in the province of Potenza, in the Basilicata region. In Banzi vines are grown for the red wine Aglianico del Vulture.

Location and data

Banzi is located 60 km northeast of Potenza and has 1380 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012 ).

The neighboring municipalities are Genzano di Lucania, Palazzo San Gervasio and Spinazzola (BA).

History

In the field of Banzi settlements from the 6th to the 4th century BC already incurred. The name goes back to ancient Bantia. About the remains of ancient settlements, the present-day city was built. 767 the monastery of Santa Maria Benedictine was founded. To the monastery arose residential buildings of the workers, which reached its greatest flowering in the 12th century.

The Mayor of Banzi, Giuseppe Garzillo (from Berlusconi's party Forza Italia ), came in the fall of 2008 in the headlines because he had numerous official appointments faked and settled. He was succeeded by Nicola set to music (Centro Sinistra ).

Attractions

The church and the monastery of Santa Maria are in the area of the old Benedictine abbey. The monastery changed hands several times, the religious community. In the 17th century the new monastery and the church is built.