Marano Marchesato is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy.

Marano Marchesato
Comune di Marano Marchesato
The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Marano Marchesato
The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Marano Marchesato
Location of Marano Marchesato
Map
Marano Marchesato is located in Italy
Marano Marchesato
Marano Marchesato
Location of Marano Marchesato in Italy
Marano Marchesato is located in Calabria
Marano Marchesato
Marano Marchesato
Marano Marchesato (Calabria)
Coordinates: 39°19′N 16°10′E / 39.317°N 16.167°E / 39.317; 16.167
CountryItaly
RegionCalabria
ProvinceCosenza (CS)
Government
 • MayorEdoardo Vivacqua
Area
 • Total5.04 km2 (1.95 sq mi)
Elevation
550 m (1,800 ft)
Population
 (2007)[2]
 • Total3,065
 • Density610/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
DemonymMaranesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
87040
Dialing code0984
ISTAT code078076
Patron saintMadonna del Carmine
Saint day15 July
WebsiteOfficial website

The origins of the town's name are widely disputed. One claim is that the name derives from the medieval Marano family, who, throughout the course of the Saracen occupation of the nearby emirate of Amantea, provided refuge to those fleeing the Muslim conquest. A second hypothesis is that Marano refers to the Spanish word "marrano", a derogatory term given to Iberian Jews who had converted to Christianity before the Spanish Inquisition. Many of these early converts, or "conversos", fled to southern Italy given the region's climate and linguistic similarity. This theory is furthered by the existence of a thriving silk trade in the town's history.

References edit

  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)