Grassano

Grassano is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is located between the Bradano and Basento rivers at an elevation ranging from about 150 to 576 metres (492 to 1,890 ft) above sea level. The town proper is 43 kilometres (27 mi) from Matera and 59 kilometres (37 mi) from the regional capital, Potenza.

Grassano
Comune
Comune di Grassano
Coat of arms
Location of Grassano
Grassano
Location of Grassano in Italy
Grassano
Grassano (Basilicata)
Coordinates: 40°38′N 16°17′E
CountryItaly
RegionBasilicata
ProvinceMatera
Government
 • MayorFilippo Luberto
Area
 • Total41.63 km2 (16.07 sq mi)
Elevation
576 m (1,890 ft)
Population
 (2015)[2]
 • Total5,228[3]
Demonym(s)Grassanesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
75014
Dialing code0835
Patron saintSaint Innocent
Saint daySeptember 22
WebsiteOfficial website

History

Grassano was founded around 1000 AD. The first official document including the town's name is dated 1123, where it is reported as castellum quod vocatur Crassanum ("castle which is called Crassanum"). In the 15th century, Grassano was officially a rural seat of the Tricarico's Diocese. Grassano's people later asked King Ladislaus of Naples for an independence act, and Grassano has remained an independent village since January 19, 1414.

Carlo Levi was arrested and exiled to Grassano because of his anti-fascist activities. In Grassano, Levi painted about 70 pictures and started discovering southern Italy's problems. He described his experiences in Grassano in his most famous book, Christ Stopped at Eboli, which was published after the Second World War in 1945.

Anna Briganti, the grandmother of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, originated in Grassano. By 1905 she was married and well-established in New York.[4]

Since 2002, Grassano, with Aliano (the second place where Levi was exiled) is an active Literary Park.

References
  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. Bilancio demografico Istat
  4. Sam Roberts, "Census Records Shed a New Light on Some of the Mayor's Forebears", New York Times, June 2, 2014


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