Afragola
Encyclopedia
Afragola is a city
and comune
in south
ern Italy. It is in Campania
, in the province of Naples
, between the territories corresponding to the ancient cities of Acerra
and Atella
. It is one of the 100 largest Italian cities (the ones that have a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants).
The city is administrated mainly by the commune of the same name (the territory of which borders on the municipalities of Acerra, Casalnuovo di Napoli
, Caivano
, Cardito
and Casoria
), that with its size of just 18 km² is one of the most densely populated of the country, and, for a short segment, by the communes of Cardito, Casalnuovo di Napoli and Casoria. As of the 2001 census
, Afragola had a population of 65,187, but the real estimated population is about 100,000 (including the areas of the city administrated by other communes).
Famous for its St. Anthony
's sanctuary
-basilica
, that made it well known as the "Padua
of the South", Afragola has the largest commercial center in all of Italy, with several megastores, a multiplex, and more than 100 shops on the eastern periphery of the city. It is also known as the city of churches, because of the many Catholic
churches from the 11th to 19th century. It has the largest historical center of the region after Naples.
The project for the new high-speed railway between Turin
and Naples plans a station in Afragola one of the three most important stations in Europe (the other two are in Bologna
and Munich
), designed by Zaha Hadid
, is being realized and will be completed by 2009.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in south
South
South is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south....
ern Italy. It is in Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
, in the province of Naples
Province of Naples
The Province of Naples is a province in the Campania region of Italy. Its capital city is Naples, within the province there are 92 Comuni of the Province of Naples.-Demographics:...
, between the territories corresponding to the ancient cities of Acerra
Acerra
Acerra is a town and comune of Campania, southern Italy, in the Province of Naples, about 20 km northeast of the provincial capital in Naples. It is part of the Agro Acerrano plain.-History:...
and Atella
Atella
Atella was an ancient city of Campania, halfway between Naples and Capua; its ruins lie between the towns of Orta di Atella and Sant'Arpino. Atella is not mentioned until the Second Punic War, when, although an independent city striking its own coinage, it was allied with Capua and the other...
. It is one of the 100 largest Italian cities (the ones that have a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants).
The city is administrated mainly by the commune of the same name (the territory of which borders on the municipalities of Acerra, Casalnuovo di Napoli
Casalnuovo di Napoli
Casalnuovo di Napoli is a comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 13 km northeast of Naples...
, Caivano
Caivano
Caivano is a city and comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 14 km northeast of Naples....
, Cardito
Cardito
Cardito is a comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 14 km northeast of Naples. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 20,752 and an area of 3.2 km²....
and Casoria
Casoria
Casoria is a comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 9 km northeast of Naples.Casoria borders the following municipalities: Afragola, Arzano, Cardito, Casalnuovo di Napoli, Casavatore, Frattamaggiore, Naples, Volla.-History:The name of Casoria is...
), that with its size of just 18 km² is one of the most densely populated of the country, and, for a short segment, by the communes of Cardito, Casalnuovo di Napoli and Casoria. As of the 2001 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Afragola had a population of 65,187, but the real estimated population is about 100,000 (including the areas of the city administrated by other communes).
Famous for its St. Anthony
Anthony of Padua
Anthony of Padua or Anthony of Lisbon, O.F.M., was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. Though he died in Padua, Italy, he was born to a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, which is where he was raised...
's sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
-basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
, that made it well known as the "Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
of the South", Afragola has the largest commercial center in all of Italy, with several megastores, a multiplex, and more than 100 shops on the eastern periphery of the city. It is also known as the city of churches, because of the many Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
churches from the 11th to 19th century. It has the largest historical center of the region after Naples.
The project for the new high-speed railway between Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
and Naples plans a station in Afragola one of the three most important stations in Europe (the other two are in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
), designed by Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid, CBE is an Iraqi-British architect.-Life and career:Hadid was born in 1950 in Baghdad, Iraq. She received a degree in mathematics from the American University of Beirut before moving to study at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London.After graduating she worked...
, is being realized and will be completed by 2009.