San Fele

San Felè
—  Comune  —
Comune di San Fele
Coat of arms
San Felè Location of San Felè in Italy
Coordinates: 40°49′N 15°32′E
Country	Italy
Region	Basilicata
Province	Potenza (PZ)
Frazioni	Agrifoglio, Armatieri, Difesa, Cecci, Montagna, Pierno, Priore, Masone, Signorella, Cerrito
Government
• Mayor	Gerardo Giuseppe Antonio Fasanella
Area
• Total	96 km2 (37 sq mi)
Elevation	864 m (2,835 ft)
Population (30 November 2010)
• Total	3,277
• Density	34.14/km2 (88.4/sq mi)
Demonym	Sanfelèsi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	85020
Dialing code	0976
Patron saint	Saint Justin de Jacobis and Saint Sebastian
Saint day	30 July and 20 January
Website	Official website

San Felè (pronounced "sahn feh-LAY") is a town and comune in the province of Potenza in the Basilicata region of Italy.

Geography

It is bounded by the comuni of Atella, Bella, Castelgrande, Filiano, Muro Lucano, Rapone and Ruvo del Monte.

History

After the battle of Bovino, Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, ordered that a fortress be built in this area to protect against Byzantine incursions. This site was chosen for its defensive advantages. In 969 CE, the castle-fortress was completed. The constructors of the fortress, being from Venosa, dedicated the fortress to their protector-saint, Saint Felix (San Felice).

San Felè suffered from substantial emigration in the late 19th century (to North and South America). A large number emigrated to Buffalo, where the number of San Felè expatriates was said to be greater than the number remaining in the town. Descendants of these immigrants in Buffalo still have a San Felè Society, which holds an annual feast day honoring the town. There was also intense emigration from San Felè after the end of World War II (to Germany, Switzerland, and northern Italy).

Twin towns

• Muro Lucano, Italy, since 6 April 2010