Pontecorvo

Pontecorvo, also Ponte Corvo is an Italian commune in the province of Frosinone in the Lazio region with 13,249 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012).

Geography

Pontecorvo is located 119 km southeast of Rome, 111 km to the north of Naples and 41 km southeast of Frosinone. The old town is on a hill above the river Liri. The municipal area stretches from the Aurunci down to the wide valley of the Liri. The municipality consists of the villages of San Cosma, Sant'Oliva and Vetrine. The municipal area extends 236-612 m slm.

Pontecorvo is a member of the Comunità Montana Ausoni.

The municipality is located in the seismic zone 2 (medium endangered).

The neighboring municipalities are clockwise Roccasecca, Castrocielo, Aquino, Pignataro Interamna, Esperia, Campodimele ( LT), Pico and San Giovanni Incarico.

Traffic

Pontecorvo is located on an important since the Middle Ages the river crossing on the way from the Ciociaria area towards the sea. However, this has only local significance today.

• Pontecorvo is located 5 km from the A1 Autostrada del Sole motorway, exit Pontecorvo, removed.
• From the highway Fürt the SS 628 Via Leuciana through the town center towards the Ausoni.
• After the train station Aquino - Pontecorvo - Castrocielo in 2000 closed Piedimonte - Villa Santa Lucia train station in the next 10 km. The station is also breakpoint regional train FR6 from Roma Termini to Cassino.
• The nearest international airport of Naples is located in 105 km.

History

In ancient times, the municipality belonged to the territory of Aquinum. Numerous remains have been found of Roman estates. Among a magnificent family villa Caecina - Suetria the 1983 found in the district Sant'Oliva.

860 laid the Lombard Gastalde Rodoald its headquarters from Aquino to the Liri. He built next to an existing settlement a castle. He also built the bridge, which gave the place its name because of its unusual shape. However, the rule in Pontecorvo took Magenolfus.

999 gave Otto III. the Pontecorvo castle to Duke John of Gaeta (Giovanni Caetani ).

In the 11th century Pontecorvo was conquered by the Normans, before falling in 1105 to the monastery of Montecassino. 1464 finally came to the Papal States and formed henceforth a papal enclave in the Kingdom of Naples. This was captured in 1799 by the French under Napoleon. When that his brother Joseph in 1806 appointed to the King of Naples, he created for his brother Jean -Baptiste Bernadotte, the Principality of Pontecorvo, who was wearing from now on, the title of Prince de Pontecorvo. The Principality at the time had about 12,300 inhabitants, the city itself is 5,600.

When Marshal Bernadotte Crown Prince of Sweden was in 1810, he gave back the title. 1812-1815 was Napoleon Lucien Murat, son of Joachim Murat, the new King of Naples, the title of Prince of Pontecorvo. 1815, the city was papal enclave again in 1860 but incorporated with Benevento, the other southern papal enclave, the new Kingdom of Italy.

During World War II the city was destroyed and then rebuilt in a modern style.

Demographics

Source: ISTAT

Policy

Michele Notaro Sirianni (civic list " Pontecorvo rinasce " ) was elected on 27 and 28 March 2010, 43.12 % of the vote for mayor. His list represents 13 of the 20 local councils.

Riccardo Roscia (UDC ) was elected mayor in 2001 and confirmed in May 2006 in office. Roscia was arrested in July 2007 for abuse of office and taken into custody. Although an appellate court annulled the judgment again in the meantime, the final decision is still pending in court proceedings ..

Name and Coat of Arms

The name Pontecorvo derives from the Latin Pons curvus (Latin curvy bridge). In fact, the medieval bridge has a noticeably curvy shape. However, the term also means to Corvo Italian raven. Therefore, the arms of the city shows a raven on a curved bridge.

Attractions

• The San Giovanello Church is the only medieval church which has survived the bombing during World War II.
• The Torre Rodoaldo was built around 860 as keep of the Lombards. Since the cathedral was built over the ruins of the castle in the 11th century, it serves as the Campanile.
• Also a part of the Lombard city wall with two gates is still preserved.
• The Ponte Curvo is probably the oldest building in the city dating back in parts to ancient times.

Specialty

Pontecorvo is the center of growing your own peppers places, the so-called Corni di Bue ( = ox horns ), or Piparoglie, which are known for their sweet taste and are mainly used in the Peperonata.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Cardinal Aloisi Masella Benedetto (1879-1970), Cardinal
• Gaetano Cardinal Aloisi Masella (1826-1902), Cardinal
• Giuliano Giannichedda ( b. 1974 ), football player