Camaiore
Encyclopedia
Camaiore is a town and comune
of 31,503 inhabitants within the province of Lucca
, Tuscany
, Italy
. It stretches from the Alps
to the east, to the plains and the coast of Versilia
to the west.
and its territory has many characteristic environments. It extends from the beach in Lido di Camaiore, to the peaks of the Alps
like Monte Prana, Mount Matanna and Mount Gabberi, passing through both high and low hills. The plains of caezzanese are also important, as they are known for the cultivation of flowers and the general growth of foliage, in addition to the lido’s promenade, there are also rolling hills with small crops of vitis and olives. From the hydrographical point of view, Camaiore is rich in water, especially ground water, which is continuously extracted for private use including; greenhouses and some adjacent municipalities for the provision of local reservoir replenishment. In the summer
of 2007 strong earthquakes were felt that, according to some experts, where due to the excessive pumping of groundwater. Fears are hightened even more if you go back to the phenomenon of the chasms that, in the mid-nineties, caused extensive damage following the collapse of some houses. Small rivers can be found throughout the area, which are fed by drainage water from the mountains, Amongst one of the more important rivers is the Lombricese that runs at the foot of Mount Gabberi, touching the nearby towns of Lombrici and joins another river, the Lucese, which comes down from the pass of the same name, arriving in the valley through Nocchi Marignana (Camaiore) areas and the lower part of Pieve di Camaiore up to Camaiore. From here onwards, it joins with the Lombricese to form the Camaiore river down to its mouth
which is also called Fosso dell'Abate. Throughout the territory there are small ponds or lakes of small size fed from various sources. The coast of Lido di Camaiore is bathed by the Ligurian sea, which extends from Liguria to the promontory of Piombino and not the Tyrrhenian Sea
as mistakenly believed.
and an important station along the Via Cassia
. From this we find the origins of the name "Campus Maior" (Campo Maggiore).
In the Middle Ages
, the town grew considerably thanks to the old Francigena, which follows northwest from Lucca, towards the Lunigiana
and Passo della Cisa, and on to 'Campo Maggiore’. The city represented the Twenty-seventh stage during the journey of Sigerico Canterbury, and was called Campmaior by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1226, the Luccans destroyed the remote hill fortress of Montecastrese, situated above Camaiore on the slopes of Mount Prana, and the survivors of this battle migrated down to the valley in Camaiore as it offered more protection against future city-state attacks.
, who is currently racing for the professional team of Liquigas.
Lido di Camaiore, has been repeatedly a stage finish of the Tour of Italy
with the following towns: Überherrn
, Germany
L'Hôpital
, France
Rovinj
, Croatia
(since 1990)
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:...
of 31,503 inhabitants within the province of Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
, Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It stretches from the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
to the east, to the plains and the coast of Versilia
Versilia
The Versilia is a part of Tuscany in the north-western province of Lucca, and is named after the Versilia river.Known for fashionable Riviera resorts, it consists of numerous clubs that are frequented by local celebrities....
to the west.
Morphology
Camaiore is the largest municipality in relation to the whole of VersiliaVersilia
The Versilia is a part of Tuscany in the north-western province of Lucca, and is named after the Versilia river.Known for fashionable Riviera resorts, it consists of numerous clubs that are frequented by local celebrities....
and its territory has many characteristic environments. It extends from the beach in Lido di Camaiore, to the peaks of the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
like Monte Prana, Mount Matanna and Mount Gabberi, passing through both high and low hills. The plains of caezzanese are also important, as they are known for the cultivation of flowers and the general growth of foliage, in addition to the lido’s promenade, there are also rolling hills with small crops of vitis and olives. From the hydrographical point of view, Camaiore is rich in water, especially ground water, which is continuously extracted for private use including; greenhouses and some adjacent municipalities for the provision of local reservoir replenishment. In the summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
of 2007 strong earthquakes were felt that, according to some experts, where due to the excessive pumping of groundwater. Fears are hightened even more if you go back to the phenomenon of the chasms that, in the mid-nineties, caused extensive damage following the collapse of some houses. Small rivers can be found throughout the area, which are fed by drainage water from the mountains, Amongst one of the more important rivers is the Lombricese that runs at the foot of Mount Gabberi, touching the nearby towns of Lombrici and joins another river, the Lucese, which comes down from the pass of the same name, arriving in the valley through Nocchi Marignana (Camaiore) areas and the lower part of Pieve di Camaiore up to Camaiore. From here onwards, it joins with the Lombricese to form the Camaiore river down to its mouth
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
which is also called Fosso dell'Abate. Throughout the territory there are small ponds or lakes of small size fed from various sources. The coast of Lido di Camaiore is bathed by the Ligurian sea, which extends from Liguria to the promontory of Piombino and not the Tyrrhenian Sea
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
as mistakenly believed.
History
Camaiore has strict Roman origins, which was one of the largest encampments contiguous to the city of LuccaLucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
and an important station along the Via Cassia
Via Cassia
The Via Cassia was an important Roman road striking out of the Via Flaminia near the Milvian Bridge in the immediate vicinity of Rome and, passing not far from Veii traversed Etruria...
. From this we find the origins of the name "Campus Maior" (Campo Maggiore).
In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, the town grew considerably thanks to the old Francigena, which follows northwest from Lucca, towards the Lunigiana
Lunigiana
The Lunigiana is an historical territory of Italy, which today falls within the provinces of La Spezia and Massa Carrara. Its borders derive from the ancient Roman settlement, later the medieval diocese of Luni, which no longer exists....
and Passo della Cisa, and on to 'Campo Maggiore’. The city represented the Twenty-seventh stage during the journey of Sigerico Canterbury, and was called Campmaior by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1226, the Luccans destroyed the remote hill fortress of Montecastrese, situated above Camaiore on the slopes of Mount Prana, and the survivors of this battle migrated down to the valley in Camaiore as it offered more protection against future city-state attacks.
Monuments
- Villa Borbone delle Pianore
- Chiesa dell'Immacolata Concezione e di San Lazzaro
- Pieve di Santo Stefano
- Via Vittorio Emanuele
- Teatro dell'Olivo
Personalities linked to Camaiore
- Sigerico di Canterbury, arcivescovo
- Ermenegildo PistelliErmenegildo PistelliErmenegildo Pistelli, , born in Florence, Italian papyrologist and palaeographer.Pistelli finished his philological studies in Florence.He examined numerous manuscripts found in Oxyrhynchus, e.g. Papyrus 2, 35, 36, Uncial 0171.- Works :...
, presbitero e scrittore - Zita di Borbone-Parma, imperatrice
Sport
Born, raised and still residing in Camaiore, is the Under 23 Road Cycling champion, Francesco ChicchiFrancesco Chicchi
Francesco Chicchi is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Pro Tour team .- Major results :200220052006...
, who is currently racing for the professional team of Liquigas.
Lido di Camaiore, has been repeatedly a stage finish of the Tour of Italy
- 1997 (May 28): 11 ^ stage, won by Gabriele MissagliaGabriele MissagliaGabriele Missaglia is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer.-Palmarès:1997...
. - 2002 (May 19): the 7th stage, won by BelgianBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Rik VerbruggheRik VerbruggheRik Verbrugghe is a Belgian former professional road racing cyclist. In 1996, Verbrugghe turned pro and has since become a Belgian time trial champion, competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics, won a stage at the Tour de France, three stages at the Giro d'Italia, and the one-day Ardennes...
. - 2007 (May 21): 9 ^ stage, won by Danilo NapolitanoDanilo NapolitanoDanilo Napolitano is an Italian professional road racing cyclist on , and is chiefly known for his sprinting abilities....
.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Camaiore is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with the following towns: Überherrn
Überherrn
Überherrn is a municipality in the district of Saarlouis, in Saarland, Germany. It is situated along the river Bist on the border with France, approx. southwest of Saarlouis, and west of Saarbrücken. It has 12,150 inhabitants. At the part Felsberg-Berus, there is the Longwave transmitter Europe...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
L'Hôpital
L'Hôpital
L'Hôpital is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is the birthplace of the Slovenian author Mile Klopčič and historian France Klopčič....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Rovinj
Rovinj
Rovinj is a city in Croatia situated on the north Adriatic Sea with a population of 13,562 . It is located on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula and is a popular tourist resort and an active fishing port...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
(since 1990)