Maida, Calabria


Maida is a town and comune in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The British routed the French in the Battle of Maida in 1806, as part of the War of the Third Coalition.
Maida is south of Lamezia Terme and west of the provincial capital Catanzaro.

History

On 4 July 1806 the British under General John Stuart defeated the French under Jean Reynier outside the town. A London pub on the Edgware Road was named The Hero of Maida, which in turn gave its name to adjoining districts of London, Maida Hill and later, Maida Vale. King Ferdinand IV of Naples and Sicily awarded Stuart the title of Count of Maida.
The Norman castle of Maida was built in the 11th century under the direction of Duke Robert Guiscard.

Famous citizens

The main economic activity in the area is agriculture, especially the cultivation of olive trees, citrus, and kiwifruit. In recent years, tourism has become a significant source of income for the town.

Sister cities

Maida is a sister city with: