# Squillace

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For other uses, see [Squillace (disambiguation)](/source/Squillace_(disambiguation)).

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Comune in Calabria, Italy

Squillace Skylàkion (Greek) Comune Città di Squillace Coat of arms Squillace Location of Squillace in Italy Show map of Italy Squillace Squillace (Calabria) Show map of Calabria Coordinates: 38°47′N 16°31′E / 38.783°N 16.517°E / 38.783; 16.517 Country Italy Region Calabria Province Catanzaro (CZ) Frazioni Fiasco Baldaia, Squillace Lido Government • Mayor Pasquale Muccari Area [1] • Total 33 km2 (13 sq mi) Elevation 344 m (1,129 ft) Population (December 31, 2013)[2] • Total 3,541 • Density 110/km2 (280/sq mi) Demonym Squillacesi Time zone UTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST) Postal code 88069 Dialing code 0961 Patron saint St. Agathius Martyr Saint day May 7 Website http://www.squillace.org

**Squillace** ([Calabrian Greek](/source/Calabrian_Greek): *Skylàkion*; [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek_language): Σκυλλήτιον, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Ancient_Greek): *Skyllḗtion*; [Medieval Greek](/source/Medieval_Greek_language): Σκυλάκιον, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Medieval_Greek): *Skylákion*) is an ancient town and *[comune](/source/Comune)* in the [Province of Catanzaro](/source/Province_of_Catanzaro), part of [Calabria](/source/Calabria), [Southern Italy](/source/Southern_Italy).

Squillace is situated near the east coast of Calabria, facing the shores of the eponymous Gulf of Squillace ([Italian](/source/Italian_language): *Golfo di Squillace*), which indents the coast of Calabria on the east as deeply as that of the [Gulf of Saint Euphemia](/source/Gulf_of_Saint_Euphemia) (Italian: *Golfo di Sant'Eufemia*) does on the west, with a comparatively narrow isthmus between them facing the [eponymous gulf](/source/Gulf_of_Squillace).[3]

## History

Squillace is known today as one of Italy's most important archaeological sites as well as a popular resort. The name derives from the ancient city of [Scylletium](/source/Scylletium), the principal ruins of which are located in the nearby comune of [Borgia](/source/Borgia_(CZ)). The Roman statesman and writer [Cassiodorus](/source/Cassiodorus) founded a monastery called [Vivarium](/source/Vivarium_(monastery)) on his family estates on the shores of the Ionian Sea in the 6th century AD. This monastery was on the site of the modern Santa Maria de Vetere near Squillace.

### Medieval and early modern history

The modern town was founded as a [Byzantine](/source/Byzantine) fortress during the Byzantine reconquest of Italy (6th–8th century). During the [Middle Ages](/source/Middle_Ages) it was subject to frequent raids by [Saracens](/source/Saracens), who made it for a short time a strong military base. After this brief Arab rule the city fell under the hegemony of the [Normans](/source/Normans), who in 1044 built a castle and transformed the settlement into a county.[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*]

During the [Kingdom of Sicily](/source/Kingdom_of_Sicily), with the lordship of [Roger of Lauria](/source/Roger_of_Lauria), Squillace passed first to [Robert of Anjou](/source/Robert%2C_King_of_Naples) and to the counts of [Monfort](/source/Monfort), then for one hundred and fifty years the city was ruled by the [Marzano family](/source/Marzano_(surname)). In 1445, it reverted to the Aragonese [Kings of Naples](/source/Kings_of_Naples) but passed by marriage to the infamous [House of Borgia](/source/House_of_Borgia), who ruled the city as Princes of Squillace from 1494 to 1735. The Borgias themselves lived either in Naples or in Spain, being represented in Squillace by governors.

[Gioffre Borgia](/source/Gioffre_Borgia) (1482–1516), son of [Pope Alexander VI](/source/Pope_Alexander_VI) and younger brother of [Cesare Borgia](/source/Cesare_Borgia) and [Lucrezia Borgia](/source/Lucrezia_Borgia), married [Sancia (Sancha) of Aragon](/source/Sancha_of_Aragon%2C_Princess_of_Squillace), daughter of [Alfonso II of Naples](/source/Alfonso_II_of_Naples). Gioffre thereby obtained both the [Principality of Squillace](/source/Prince_of_Squillace) (1494) and the [Duchy of Alvito](/source/Duchy_of_Alvito) (1497) as his wife's dowry. He lost Alvito after the death of Sancia in 1506, but managed to retain Squillace. Subsequently he married Maria de Mila, and their son Francesco Borgia inherited the Principality.

Three more Borgias ruled Squillace after Francesco: Giovanni, Pietro and, finally, Anna, after whose death the Principality passed to [Francisco de Borja y Aragón](/source/Francisco_de_Borja_y_Arag%C3%B3n) and thence to his brother [Fernando de Borja y Aragón](/source/Fernando_de_Borja_y_Arag%C3%B3n). Under the Bourbons, Squillace was downgraded to a Marquisate and granted in 1755 to the Marquis [Leopoldo de Gregorio](/source/Leopoldo_de_Gregorio%2C_1st_Marquess_of_Esquilache), a nobleman from Messina who was to be the last feudal lord of Squillace.[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*]

## Ceramics

Production of highly prized [terra cotta](/source/Terra_cotta) has been an important part the local economy for centuries; [Cassiodorus](/source/Cassiodorus) makes several mentions of it in his writings. Squillace is the home of the *pignatari* style of ceramic artistry. The name is derived from the Italian word *pignata*, an earthenware container used for cooking beans over an open fire.

## Notable people

- [Cassiodorus](/source/Cassiodorus)

- [Florestano Pepe](/source/Florestano_Pepe)

- [Guglielmo Pepe](/source/Guglielmo_Pepe)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wikidata-16139ca327c50d72c40d8c5fd3abe706b989650e-v20_1-0)** ["Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011"](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224). Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wikidata-6c4193b2686f905553042f4ae1ae4934aea078c8-v20_2-0)** ["Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018"](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html). Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** *The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World* (13 ed.). London: Times Books. 2011. p. 78 L6. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780007419135](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780007419135).

## External links

Media related to [Squillace](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Squillace) at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Calabria · Comuni of the Province of Catanzaro Albi Amaroni Amato Andali Argusto Badolato Belcastro Borgia Botricello Caraffa di Catanzaro Cardinale Carlopoli Catanzaro Cenadi Centrache Cerva Chiaravalle Centrale Cicala Conflenti Cortale Cropani Curinga Davoli Decollatura Falerna Feroleto Antico Fossato Serralta Gagliato Gasperina Gimigliano Girifalco Gizzeria Guardavalle Isca sullo Ionio Jacurso Lamezia Terme Magisano Maida Marcedusa Marcellinara Martirano Martirano Lombardo Miglierina Montauro Montepaone Motta Santa Lucia Nocera Terinese Olivadi Palermiti Pentone Petrizzi Petronà Pianopoli Platania San Floro San Mango d'Aquino San Pietro Apostolo San Pietro a Maida San Sostene San Vito sullo Ionio Sant'Andrea Apostolo dello Ionio Santa Caterina dello Ionio Satriano Sellia Sellia Marina Serrastretta Sersale Settingiano Simeri Crichi Sorbo San Basile Soverato Soveria Mannelli Soveria Simeri Squillace Stalettì Taverna Tiriolo Torre di Ruggiero Vallefiorita Zagarise

Authority control databases International VIAF GND National United States Israel Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Squillace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squillace) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squillace?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.