Brancaleone - Italy

Brancaleone (RC)

Calabria (Italy)

On behalf Brancaleone are different theories, some authors argue that derives dall'acanto (perennial herb) that grow in the area where the first village was built. The acanthus, in fact, was called "branch (leg) in Leuna. Others attribute it to the memory of a Sicilian family, French wire, called Brancaleon, who between 1282 and 1302, had a feud in these places.
Brancaleone's name was mentioned for the first time in the thirteenth century, records of the Chancery Angevin. Much older, however, is the location from which later rose in the country.
They are, in fact, clear and numerous traces of the first Greek and then Roman. There are many remains of walls scattered throughout the territories and as numerous testimonies of important finds were destroyed.
In the late '80s, during the construction of a drainage gully, near the old sports field in Brancaleone, the workers of the Consortium of Reclamation, destroyed a path of a greek temple of the Archaic period.
Years ago, near the level crossing, while performing work on behalf of the State Railways emerged and Greek tombs were destroyed.
In the mid 90's, opposite the train station during the construction of a building, about 5 meters deep, the road surface, has come to light one floor of a large room of the Roman period, with at center, a well covered and intact.
Rich in testimonies and exhibits, is the mirror of the sea adjacent to the country.
In the sea area near the former barracks of Finance are visible, wedged between the rocks, two stone sarcophagi.
Again, in the sea, in front of the S. George, three hundred meters from the shoreline and about 15 are visible depth of the remains, which shows a pit rimmed square stones, which shows a curved trend. In the same area, as part of the beach near the railroad, was discovered a large platform at the end, often more than 60 cm.
In the Roman period, area, a staging area for couriers on horseback, supported by buildings and a military garrison. The same period, a mask of a source, large fragments of mattonacci, which are located in the district Frisch. In all likelihood, these findings indicate that in the area stood a villa.
Surely the village grew in importance, given that on February 27, 1451 was lord of Brancaleone, palisades, Placanica, Baron, Geronimo Ruffo. Brancaleone have remained under Ruffo until 1515, when Geronima last dynasty to inherit the estate, married the Earl of Simeri, Alfonso of Aragon De Ayerbe, that the replacement in the management of land. In the following years De Ayerbe Aragona sold with the jus redeems (ie the right to buy back) at Troy Marquis Mesoraca Spinelli, the lands of Brancaleone and palisades. In 1567 they passed to Giovambattista Spinelli, prince of Scalea and Marquis Mesoraca, after the death of his father in 1566. Alfondo d'Ayerbe d'Aragona, by virtue of jus redeemed, repurchased by Giovambattista Spinelli lands Mesoraca, Brancaleone and palisades, and in 1571 the sold for 20,000 ducats, the noble Messina Cristofaro La Rocca, always with the ius redemption. Shortly after the repurchased once again for the same amount. He sold the land of Palizzi in 1580 to Francesco Colonna Romano. Ayerbe even earlier (1572) had sold the lands of Brancaleone with its country houses, for 30,000 ducats, to Eleonora di Messina Spadafora, wife of the noble Frederick Stayt. Dynasty Stayt kept the feud until 1625, when inherited from Hippolyte Stayt D'Ayerbe, by marriage, came under the dominion of Vincenzo Carafa, The Prince of Roccella. The last lord of Brancaleone, struck by the revolutionary laws of feudalism on August 2, 1806, willed by Joseph Bonaparte, was Vincenzo Carafa, who had the title in 1774, the fiefs of Roccella, Brancaleone, Bruzzano, succeeding his father, Gennaro. He was the last prince of Roccella, VII ° Marchese di Brancaleone, fifth Duke of Bruzzano, was born in 1739, died in 1814.
The town of Brancaleone Marina, as we know it today, is developed along the coastline.
Arose in the early twentieth century, when some floods disrupt the old town of Brancaleone Superiore, adding to the damage they had caused the earthquake of 1908. It was then that he began a gradual shift of population towards the coast, offering faster connections and opportunities for increased trade.
The first settlement evolved in the district race, which still has the typical facility regularly houses lots to accommodate the displaced slum dwellers in the old town perched on the hill above. Later the village expanded towards the sea up to today's central core located along Route 106.
In the 30s of the twentieth century the town was the place of residence forced the great writer Cesare Pavese, opposed by the fascist regime for his cultural democracy.
In the 50s, following another series of floods, those who were still dwelling Brancaleone Superiore, moved permanently "to the navy" who assumed that character of seaside resort.
Great resource, not only productive but especially tourism-accommodation is made up from the sea, and the presence of a beautiful sandy coastline that has the cliffs of Cape Bruzzano an example of the almost savage beauty of this part of Calabria.