Forenza

Forenza is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Acerenza, Avigliano, Filiano, Ginestra, Maschito, Palazzo San Gervasio, Pietragalla, Ripacandida. American World War I veteran Antonio Pierro was born in Forenza in 1896. The town coat of arms is an ox standing under an oak tree over a blue background with a large crown at the top of the seal and oak and olive branches framing the bottom. The village of Forenza is built on a hill top near the ruins of the ancient city of Forentum, which was occupied by Rome in 317 and destroyed in the Greek-Gothic War of 535–553. Some interesting places to see in Forenza are the Chiesa del Crocifisso, which preserves a wooden crucifix from the 17th century. There is also the Chiesa Madre that has a Romanesque portal and is dedicated to S. Nicola. Another thing to see is the Anunnziata Church that has a statue of S. Maria of the Longobards inside. http://www.initalytoday.com/basilicata/forenza/index.htm http://www.comuni-italiani.it/076/033/stemma.html