Saracena

Saracena (Greek: Sarakine) is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The town is bordered by Altomonte, Castrovillari, Firmo, Lungro, Morano Calabro, Mormanno, Orsomarso and San Basile and is home to the Church of San Leone, a 12th-century Byzantine church. The town's patron is San Leone di Catania, who is celebrated twice a year, once in the spring, then again in late summer.

Saracena Sarakinì (Greek)
Comune
Comune di Saracena
View of Saracena from Lungro
Location of Saracena
Saracena Location of Saracena in Italy Show map of Italy Saracena Saracena (Calabria) Show map of Calabria
Coordinates: 39°46′N 16°9′E
Country	Italy
Region	Calabria
Province	Cosenza (CS)
Frazioni	Zoccalia
Area [1]
• Total	111.51 km2 (43.05 sq mi)
Elevation	606 m (1,988 ft)
Population  (2018-01-01)[2]
• Total	4,082
• Density	37/km2 (95/sq mi)
Demonym	Saracenari
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	87010
Dialing code	0981
Patron saint	Saint Leo of Catania
Saint day	19 February
Website	Official website

Like Palermo and Tropea, Saracena was renowned for its souk (or street market) during the period of Arab Sicily from the ninth century until the Norman era. Arab-Sicilian influence remained strong until the 13th century.

Wines

The village of Saracena is noted for the specialty dessert wine produced in the area, Moscato di Saracena, made in a passito (straw wine) style from a blend of several white Italian grape varieties including Coda di Volpe bianca (known locally as Guarnaccia bianca), Malvasia bianca di Candia, Addoraca and Muscat blanc à Petits Grains (known locally as Moscatello d Saracena).^[3]