Amato
Comune
Comune di Amato
Location of Amato
Amato Location of Amato in Italy Show map of Italy Amato Amato (Calabria) Show map of Calabria
Coordinates: 38°56′N 16°28′E / 38.933°N 16.467°E / 38.933; 16.467
Country	Italy
Region	Calabria
Province	Catanzaro (CZ)
Government
• Mayor	Saverio Ruga
Area [1]
• Total	20 km2 (8 sq mi)
Elevation	480 m (1,570 ft)
Population  (31 December 2013)[2]
• Total	848
• Density	42/km2 (110/sq mi)
Demonym	Amatesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	88040
Dialing code	0961
Patron saint	Francis of Paola
Saint day	2 April
Website	Official website

Amato (Calabrian: Amàtu; Albanian: Amati) is an Arbëreshë^[3] comune and town in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabria region of Italy.

History

Amato is one of the oldest towns in Calabria. It is mentioned by the Greek philosopher Aristotle and by the Roman Pliny the Elder in one of his books. He calls it "Sinus Lametinus" (Lametino Harbour).

It appears that the people of Amato originated from the ancient city of Lametia, on the promontory of the Gulf of Saint Euphemia, near the mouth of the Amato River. It was one of the most thriving cities of ancient Bruttium.^{[citation needed]}

It was destroyed during the late age of the Western Roman Empire, the inhabitants taking shelter in the nearby Nicastro. A settlement is mentioned again only starting from the 12th century.