Varapodio

Varapodio Greek: Varapodion
Comune
Comune di Varapodio
Coat of arms
Location of Varapodio
Varapodio Location of Varapodio in Italy Varapodio Varapodio (Calabria)
Coordinates: 38°19′N 15°59′E
Country	Italy
Region	Calabria
Metropolitan city	Reggio Calabria (RC)
Government
• Mayor	Orlando Fazzolari
Area
• Total	29.0 km2 (11.2 sq mi)
Elevation	208 m (682 ft)
Population  (31 May 2010)
• Total	2,243
• Density	77/km2 (200/sq mi)
Demonym	Varapodiesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	89010
Dialing code	0966
Patron saint	St. Nicholas of Bari, Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Saint day	December 6 and November 16
Website	Official website

Varapodio (Calabrian: Marrapòdi; Greek: Bαραποδιον, romanized: Varapodion) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the southern Italian region Calabria, located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) southwest of Catanzaro and about 35 kilometres (22 mi) northeast of Reggio Calabria.

Varapodio, 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the coast of Gioia Tauro, is one of the towns on the plains of Gioia Tauro. It borders the following municipalities: Ciminà, Molochio, Oppido Mamertina, Platì, Taurianova, Terranova Sappo Minulio.

Etymology

The name of the town has evolved over the ages. Originally it was called Marrapodi, derived from the Greek 'Mαραποδιον', or Marrapodion, possibly meaning 'heavy-footed'. Another theory put forward by Don Antonino Di Masi is that the name is derived from the local river called Marro. It was later called Barapodi by the local Greek-speaking Orthodox Christians who inhabited the town, then to the Latinised Baropedium during the 14th to 16th centuries. In modern times, it was regularly called Varapodi, and then finally to Varapodio in 1811, although Varapodi is still used in the local dialect.

History

The ancient Varapodio was located three kilometres from its present location, in an area called Il Salvatore. According to the tradition, town was founded in 951 CE by inhabitants fleeing Islamic attacks on along the coast. By the 17th century, the town had shifted to its present location, where there were already a few established churches founded by the Augustinian Fathers. The town attained autonomy by Royal Decree number 922 on May 4, 1811.

Varapodio experienced significant levels of emigration during the 1950s to 1960s, with communities of emigrants settling in Northern Italy, the United States, Canada and within Australia, principally Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Cobram, Shepparton and Swan Hill. Today, agriculture is still the driving force behind the economy of the town, although industry is present with factories specializing in processing oranges and olives.