Laurino
The name of this ancient town - founded in the year 278 BC - derives from the abundant laurel plants (lauro in Italian) that grew in the area. The town reached a demographic peak in the 12th century with a population of twenty thousand people. The consequent decline began in the year 1246 when the emperor Frederick II ordered the destruction of the city as punishment for the Sanseverino family, Laurino's feudal lords. The town still preserves many of its historical buildings and monuments such as the house of Saint Elena Consalvo, the elegant Palazzo Ducale, the convent of Sant Antonio, the theatre, thè original medieval bridges and a Lombard castle. The town used to host an ancient Greek Gymnasium where, according to some ancient sources, Pythagoras and Hippocrates taught their disciples. This building was unfortunately destroyed. A substantial and valuable collection of ancient artefacts - what is left of the area's archaeological heritage - can be viewed at the local site known as Antìquarìum.
