San Lorenzo Nuovo | ||
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Comune | ||
Comune di San Lorenzo Nuovo | ||
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Location of San Lorenzo Nuovo in Italy | ||
Coordinates: 42°40′N 11°54′E / 42.667°N 11.900°E | ||
Country | Italy | |
Region | Lazio | |
Province / Metropolitan city | Viterbo (VT) | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Massimo Bambini | |
Area | ||
• Total | 27.99 km2 (10.81 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 503 m (1,650 ft) | |
Population (31 December 2014) | ||
• Total | 2,109 | |
• Density | 75/km2 (200/sq mi) | |
Demonym(s) | Sanlorenzani | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
Postal code | 01020 | |
Dialing code | 0763 | |
Patron saint | Saint Lawrence (main patron saint), Saint Apollinare (co-patron saint) | |
Saint day | 10 August (Saint Lawrence), 23 July (Saint Apollinare) | |
Website | Official website |
San Lorenzo Nuovo is a small town and comune in the province of Viterbo, in the Latium region of Italy. It is an agricultural center producing potatoes, olive oil, garlic, onions, cereals and grapes. A second source of revenue is tourism.
The town is located on the northern side of Lake Bolsena's crater rim. It dominates the lake basin on one side and the valley of the Acquapendente on the other side, at the crossing of the ancient Via Cassia (now state road 2) and the via Maremmana (state road 74). Neighbouring cities are Acquapendente, Bolsena, Castel Giorgio, Gradoli and Grotte di Castro.
The rock known as "Sasso della graticola" is placed to mark the border with Bolsena and Castelgiorgo. The rock bears initials S L on the side facing San Lorenzo Nuovo. San Lorenzo Nuovo is famous for the harmonious symmetry and linearity of its streets, due to Francesco Navone.
Before 1774, the old village of San Lorenzo alle Grotte was located in the lowlands closer to Lake Bolsena than the current village. This ancient hamlet was named after the numerous surrounding caves (grotte). Originally inhabited by the Etruscans, after the Roman conquest San Lorenzo was elected municipium and prefecture. According to tradition, during the 5th-century AD invasions of the Vandals, the inhabitants had asked for protection from the heavens; on the feast of Saint Apollinare, a dense fog came down and the invaders spared the town. In 771–772, refugees came here from Tiro, a small centre placed on the hill of Civita (later "Svignata"), when the original Etruscan town of Grotte di Castro was destroyed by the Lombards under king Desiderius. It was in this area, according to Roman Martyrology, that Saint Christina of Bolsena would have been martyrized.