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Terni

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Terni
Interamna
Comune
Comune di Terni
Panorama of Terni
Panorama of Terni
Location of Terni
Map
CountryItaly
RegionUmbria
ProvinceTerni (TR)
FrazioniAcquapalombo, Appecano, Battiferro, Cecalocco, Cesi, Collegiacone, Collescipoli, Collestatte, Gabelletta, Giuncano Alto, Giuncano Scalo, Marmore, Miranda, Papigno, Piediluco, Poggio Lavarino, Polenaco, Porzano, Pracchia, Rivo, Rocca San Zenone, San Carlo, San Liberatore, Titurano, Torreorsina, Valenza
Government
 • MayorLeopoldo Di Girolamo (Democratic Party)
Area
[1]
 • Total211 km2 (81 sq mi)
Elevation
130 m (430 ft)
Population
 (30 April 2009)[2]
 • Total112,253
 • Density530/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
DemonymTernani
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
05100
Dialing code0744
Patron saintSaint Valentine
Saint dayFebruary 14
WebsiteOfficial website
Palazzo Spada.

Terni listenⓘ (Latin: Interamna) is a city in southern Umbria, central Italy, capital of the province of Terni, located in the plain of the Nera river. It is 104 km (65 mi) N of Rome, 36 km (23 mi) NW of Rieti, and 29 km (18 mi) S of Spoleto.

History

The city was founded around the 7th century BC by the Umbrians, in a territory inhabited (as testified by archaeological excavations of several necropolises) as early as the Bronze Age. In the 3rd century BC it was conquered by the Romans and soon become an important municipium lying on the Via Flaminia. The Roman name was Interamna, meaning "in between two rivers". During the Roman Empire the city was enriched with several buildings, including aqueducts, walls, amphitheaters, temples and bridges.

After the Lombard conquest (755) Terni lost any role of prominence, reducing to a secondary town in the Duchy of Spoleto. In 1174 it was sacked by Frederick Barbarossa's general, Archbishop Christian of Mainz. In the following century Terni was one of the favourite seat of St. Francis' prayings.

In the 14th century Terni issued a constitution of its own and from 1353 the walls were enlarged, and new channels were opened. As well as much of the Italian communes of the Late Middle Ages, it was slain by inner disputes between Guelphs and Ghibellines, and later between the two parties of Nobili and Banderari. Later it become part of the Papal States. In 1580 an ironwork, the Ferriera, was introduced to work the iron ore mined in Monteleone di Spoleto, starting the traditional industrial connotation of the city. In the 17th century, however, Terni declined further due to plagues and famines.

In the 19th century Terni took advantage of the Industrial Revolution and of plentiful water sources in the area. New industries included a steelwork, a foundry, as well as weapons, jute and wool factories. In 1927 Terni became capital of the province. The presence of important industries made it a favourite target for the Allied bombardments in World War II, totalling 108 raids. Despite this, industrial environment increased quicky, in fact the city is called "the italian Manchester".

Economy

The city has three important industrial hubs: the first one is the Stainless called AST (part of the group ThyssenKrupp) is a wide area located in the west part of Terni. In the Eastern is a second industrial hub, known as "area Polymer", with four different chemical multinational industries. The third industrial hub is the "TERNI Research", which produces technologies employed for green energies and constructs green power plants in Italy.

Transport

Terni is connected with the A1 motorway, the National Road Tiberina and National Road Flaminia by the RATO, a motorway junction.

Terni railway station is part of the Rome–Ancona national rail line, and is also a junction station for two secondary lines, the Terni–Sulmona railway (which links Terni with L'Aquila) and the Terni–Sansepolcro railway (FCU) (which serves Perugia). One of the most important national freight stations is located nearby.[citation needed]

The local urban and suburban transport service, ATC, runs 90 bus lines. In the north of the city (Colleluna zone), there are works in progress on the line from Perugia to enable it to be used as a Light rail line.[citation needed]

Main sights

  • The Roman amphitheater, once capable of 10,000 spectators, built in 32 BC.
  • The small Roman gate of Porta Sant'Angelo, one of the four ancient entrances to the city, much restored.
  • The Cathedral (Duomo) of S. Maria Assunta (17th century). Built over one of the most ancient Christian edifices of the city, it has today Baroque lines. In the interior is one organ designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. the belfry is from the 18th century. The façade has two mediaeval gates: one of them has the profile of a sabot once used to measure the citizen's shoes in order they do not exceed a fixed limit of decency.
  • Church of S. Francesco.
  • The Basilica of S. Valentino.
  • Palazzo Mazzancolli is one of the few remains of the Middle Ages past of the city.
  • Palazzo Gazzoli (18th century), housing the City's Gallery with works by Pierfrancesco d'Amelia, Benozzo Gozzoli, Gerolamo Troppa and Orneore Metelli.
  • Palazzo Spada (16th century), by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. It is the current Town Hall.
  • The Lancia di Luce ("Lance of Light"), by the sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro.
  • The Romanesque churches:
    • S. Alò (11th century).
    • S. Martino.
    • S. Salvatore.
  • Todi Castle (1100 AD) once used for wars is now a vacation spot for tourists.

Nearby, at the confluence of the Velino and Nera Rivers, is the Cascata delle Marmore, a 165 m waterfall.

Notable natives

The Roman historian Tacitus is often stated to have been born in Terni, but there is no evidence for the claim, which is circumstantially based on the probable birth there of the emperor of the same name, and on the attested fact that that emperor took care to have his namesake's works widely copied, in the apparent belief that they were related.

The case of St. Valentine is more complex, since there was undoubtedly an early bishop of Terni by that name, who is the city's patron. In late Antiquity, however, the name was a common one, and the bishop has become conflated with several other saints, the most important of whom, the soldier saint, was probably not from Terni.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Terni.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy

Twin towns — Sister cities

Terni is twinned with:

External links


  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
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