Accadia (Irpino: Acchedìe) is a town and comune in the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of southeast Italy. Until the mid-20th century it was just within the eastern frontier of the region of Campania in the province of Avellino.

Accadia
Comune di Accadia
Location of Accadia
Map
Accadia is located in Italy
Accadia
Accadia
Location of Accadia in Italy
Accadia is located in Apulia
Accadia
Accadia
Accadia (Apulia)
Coordinates: 41°10′N 15°20′E / 41.167°N 15.333°E / 41.167; 15.333
CountryItaly
RegionApulia
ProvinceFoggia (FG)
FrazioniAgata delle Noci
Government
 • MayorAgostino De Paolis
Area
 • Total
30.48 km2 (11.77 sq mi)
Elevation
650 m (2,130 ft)
Population
 (28 February 2017)[2]
 • Total
2,374
 • Density78/km2 (200/sq mi)
DemonymAccadiesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
71021
Dialing code0881
Patron saintSaint Sebastian
Saint day20 January
WebsiteOfficial website

The town occupies a hilltop at 650 metres (2,130 ft) of elevation, in the Daunian Mountains along the Apennines. It is not far from Foggia on the rich agricultural plains of the Tavoliere delle Puglie in the east, nor from Naples to the west. Population increases in summer when many of its migrant labour force return home to take up temporary residence and visit family.

Accadia borders the municipalities of Bovino, Deliceto, Monteleone di Puglia, Panni, and Sant'Agata di Puglia.

History

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Church of Madonna del Carmine

The town originated as a settlement of Daunians (or maybe Hirpini) during the 1st millennium BC. Later it was part of the Roman Empire. Its name stems from Latin aqua cadiva ("falling water"),[3] which contrasts with nearby Acquatorta village ("channeled water").

In the past it had a much larger population. A Neapolitan army sacked it during the Bourbon period. They took the town gates as booty, and these are still in the civic museum in Naples. These events are recorded on a frieze on the clock tower on the main square in the centre of the town. There is one remaining Roman arch at a former entrance to the town.

There has been extensive redevelopment of the former old quarter of town, which was abandoned after an earthquake in the 1930s. At this time a large portion of the population emigrated and established a colony in Buffalo, New York, in the United States.

Twin towns

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Accadia has also a friendship agreement with Spello, also in Italy.

References

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  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 from the Italian statistical institute (Istat)
  3. ^ Antonella Lattanzi; Natalino Lattanzi (2015). "Accadia". Guida insolita ai misteri, ai segreti, alle leggende e alle curiosità della Puglia (in Italian). Newton Compton Editori. ISBN 9788854185012.
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  •   Media related to Accadia at Wikimedia Commons