Maenza

For other uses, see Maenza (surname).

Maenza is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Latina in the Italian region Lazio, located about 70 km (43 mi) southeast of Rome and about 25 km (16 mi) east of Latina. It is home to a castle, originally built as a watchtower in the 12th–13th centuries, and enlarged in the 16th century. In an effort to bring in new residents, it is selling abandoned houses for €1 if buyers commit to renovations.^[3]

Maenza
Comune
Comune di Maenza
Baronial castle (rocca).
Coat of arms
Location of Maenza
Maenza Location of Maenza in Italy Show map of Italy Maenza Maenza (Lazio) Show map of Lazio
Coordinates: 41°31′23″N 13°10′56″E
Country	Italy
Region	Lazio
Province	Latina (LT)
Frazioni	Farneto, Monte Acuto
Government
• Mayor	Claudio Sperduti
Area [1]
• Total	42.13 km2 (16.27 sq mi)
Elevation	358 m (1,175 ft)
Population  (28 February 2017)[2]
• Total	3,101
• Density	74/km2 (190/sq mi)
Demonym	Maentini
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	04010
Dialing code	0773
Patron saint	Sant'Eleuterio
Saint day	May 29
Website	Official website

Maenza borders the following municipalities: Carpineto Romano, Giuliano di Roma, Priverno, Prossedi, Roccagorga, Supino.

History

When the ancient Volsci city of Privernum (Ita: Priverno) was destroyed by Saracen raids in the 9th century A.D., the city's population was dispersed and merged with groups of Germanic peoples who had entered Italy at the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

These new integrated populations would not fit within the walls of the old city of Priverno, so they populated a number of new towns, of which Maenza was one. The names of many of the leading aristocratic families show the influence of the Germanic newcomers to the area.^[4]

For most of its history, like dozens of towns in central Italy, Maenza alternated between being under the feudal lords of strong aristocratic families and being a part of the Papal States. The town lost its status as a comune in 1928 (being attached to Priverno instead), but its status as a comune was restored in 1947.

References

1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
2. All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
3. Marchetti, Silvia. "Village near Rome joins Italy's €1 home sell-off". CNN Travel. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
4. "Comune of Maenza website". Retrieved 26 August 2021.