Sora | ||
---|---|---|
Comune | ||
Comune di Sora | ||
Panoramic view
|
||
|
||
Sora within the Province of Frosinone |
||
Location of Sora in Italy | ||
Coordinates: 41°43′N 13°37′E / 41.717°N 13.617°E | ||
Country | Italy | |
Region | Lazio | |
Province / Metropolitan city | Frosinone (FR) | |
Frazioni | Carnello | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Roberto De Donatis (Forza Nuova) | |
Area | ||
• Total | 71 km2 (27 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 300 m (1,000 ft) | |
Population (2014) | ||
• Total | 28,500 | |
• Density | 400/km2 (1,000/sq mi) | |
Demonym(s) | Sorani | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
Postal code | 03039 | |
Dialing code | 0776 | |
Patron saint | Santa Restituta | |
Saint day | May 27 |
Sora (Italian pronunciation: [ˈsɔːra]) is a town and comune of Lazio, Italy, in the province of Frosinone. It is built in a plain on the banks of the Liri. This part of the valley is the seat of some important manufactures, especially of paper-mills. The area around Sora is famous for the costumes of its peasants.
Sora, an ancient Volscian town, was thrice captured by the Romans, in 345, 314 and 305 BCE, before they managed, in 303, by means of a colony 4,000 strong, to confirm its annexation. In 209 it was one of the colonies which refused further contributions to the war against Hannibal. By the lex Julia it became a municipium, but under Augustus it was colonized by soldiers of the legio IV Sorana, which had been mainly enrolled there. It belonged technically to Latium adiectum.
Located in the Ducatus Romanus under the authority of the pope during the early Dark Ages, it was captured by the Lombards of Gisulf I of Benevento in 705.
The castle of Sorella, built on the rocky height above the town, was in the Middle Ages a stronghold of some note. In 1443 King Alfonso of Naples made Sora the seat of an independent Duchy for the Cantelmi; it was afterwards seized by Pope Pius II, but, being restored to the Cantelmi by Pope Sixtus IV, it ultimately passed to the Della Rovere of Urbino. Against Caesar Borgia the city was heroically defended by Giovanni da Montefeltro. It was purchased by Pope Gregory XIII for 11,000 ducats and bestowed under the suzerainty of Gregory's son, Giacomo Boncompagni (who was the first duke of Sora of the family).