ancient Potentia
City (pop., 2001 prelim.: 69,295), capital of the Basilicata region, southern Italy.
Located at 2,684 ft (819 m) above sea level in the Apennines , the Roman city Potentia was founded in the 2nd century BC and became an important road junction and flourishing community. In medieval times it had a succession of feudal overlords. In 1860 it was the first town in southern Italy to expel the Bourbon rulers of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies . The town has been rebuilt several times after earthquake damage. It is an agricultural centre and ships fruit and vegetables.