Tricarico - Italy

Tricarico (MT)

Basilicata (Italy)

HISTORY
Tricarico, the Arab-Norman city, as indicated by road signs, is an ancient town located in the heart of Lucania interior, rich in monuments and protagonist of a millennial history, woven by hand, with the diocese of which he is established since tenth century, and, with the culture of the peoples who have inhabited.
Although of ancient origin (archaeological dating from the sixth and fifth centuries BC have been found in the district Capuchins, near the century monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie), the first news report as documented the citadel Lombard 849, then the Arab stronghold , then the Byzantine fortified town (kastron) and then the county's powerful Norman family of Sanseverino.
In '400 he saw the presence of a large Jewish community and, in 500, an Albanian community.
Distant cultures, even from a religious point of view who have found a favorable point of encounter and development, as witnessed not only through art and architecture but also by wisely using the land in respect of nature.
An example of extraordinary importance, even historic, are terraced gardens and orchards, of Arabic origin and still in use today, made just outside the town towards the valley of Milo makes fertile, well, otherwise barren and unproductive land steep.
The favorable historical and cultural events that have characterized Tricarico have made a center of primary importance, as to be the only city in Luke and one of the few whole south, to be represented in the prestigious work of G. Braun and F. Hogemberg "Urbium Praecipuarum Theatrum Mundi," published in Cologne in the early '600.
Old architecture
Numerous architectural monuments: the imposing Cathedral of St. Maria Assunta, built by Robert Guiscard, in which, in 1383, Louis I of Anjou was crowned King of Naples, several churches (in 1585 there were 52 well, 13 parishes), some of them frescoed , convents (St. Anthony of Padua, Santa Clara, Santa Maria del Carmine, St. Francis of Assisi, S. Maria delle Grazie), the magnificent Norman tower which is a real giant stone of 27 meters and beyond 5 meters thick walls, the Saracen tower, the tower of Ràbata, the gates of the walled city (Fontana, thirteenth century and still retains the pillars of stone gate housing, Mount of Ràbata, the Saracen, the Beccarie ), the Doge's Palace and the archaeological museum located there, the noble palaces.
Cathedral - stucco eighteenth century its vast forests and nature well preserved are the framework for various archaeological sites: Piano della Civita (Lucan city of the fourth century BC), Calle (Roman settlement, with baths), Serra del Cedro (town of Lucan VI century BC), S. Agata (Roman villa with polychrome mosaic floor) are just the most important. The streets and alleys of Old Town feature a different performance depending on whether you are in Arab neighborhoods of Ràbata and Saracens (a labyrinthine structure, with main roads, "share" in Arabic, from which branch roads, " Darb ", which often end in dead ends" zouquaq ") or in the neighborhoods of Mount Norman and the Plan (a regular plan, together with major roads parallel to perpendicular streets for more steps and steep).
Place names
The origin of its name is, as yet, unknown and in this respect were made only hypothesis not supported by the facts: some believe can be derived from the greek = treis three, Akros, Akris = summit, mountain summit, ie "City by the three peaks, others from the greek treis kari kora or kariaris treis, be understood as a "city of the three graces" or "city beautiful", and others associated with the low Latin trigarium (a post exchange or a riding).
In fact, the tombs of the VI-V century BC found near the monastery of St. Maria delle Grazie, make a plausible name, the most ancient, to be found, probably, in Oscan, for use by indigenous peoples.
Famous People
Rocco Scotellaro (1923-1953), poet.
A literary journey, dedicated to him, was set up by the local Pro Loco with a selection of his poems set on wooden panels placed along the streets and alleys of Old Town, allowing the visitor to read the poems in places that have inspired the author.
Rocco Mazzarone (1912-2005) was born in Tricarico (MT) August 17, 1912.
Physician specializing in pulmonary disease and physiology at the University of Milan, has taught medical statistics in the faculty of medicine at the University of Bari during the years 1969-1982.
He was one of the greatest intellectuals of the region. Rocco Scotellaro friend, Carlo Levi and Manlio Rossi-Doria, was the reference point for all Italian and foreign studies conducted in the region after World War II, from ethnographic Ernesto de Martino, investigations of the historic George Peck, the photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Raphael of the knuckles (Marano 1877 - Tricky 1960) Servant of God was appointed bishop of Tricarico in 1922, established that he would not abandon the rest of his life.
Figure of moral stature, worked hard in the social sphere.
He founded a congregation of nuns in Tricarico, the "Disciples of Jesus in the Eucharist, founded schools and encouraged the work of the bishop Don Pancras Toscano for the recovery of the church and convent of St. Anthony of Padua in Tricarico, where an institute was established shelter for elderly and destitute, he made available a part of the bishop's palace to make you set up the then constituting Hospital of Tricarico (rare example of a health institution founded by a citizen, right, during the first seven years, only with the liberal contributions Community Tricaricese).
His body rests in the Cathedral of Tricarico.
Masks TRICARICO
Masks Tricarico (simply "The 'Mash-kr" in the dialect Tricaricese) constitute a precious heritage of ancient cultures, bound, is considered on the fertility rites.
Cows and bulls, played by men (participation is forbidden to women) are a herd transhumance in which participants mimic the pace and movement of animals, including "evidence mounts" bulls on cows.
The cow mask consists of a wide-brimmed hat covered with a scarf and a long veil, richly decorated with colored ribbons that go down to the ankles, worn the tights (or, alternatively, knitted wool knickers) is too 'It is decorated with ribbons or colorful scarves around his neck, hips, arms and legs.
The mask of a bull is identical in composition but stands to be completely black with some red ribbons.
Each mask has a cowbell, different in appearance and sound depending on whether cows or bulls.
At the dawn of January 17, a day dedicated to St. Anthony, patron saint of animals, it is customary for the faithful, together with their animals for which invoke the goodwill of the saint and for the occasion are decked with ribbons, beads and colored beads, turn three laps around the church to him then dedicated to receive, after Mass, the blessing by the priest.
The same ritual is observed by the herd, before moving to the city center and drive along the old districts.
The parade of masks is repeated on the last Sunday before the close of the carnival.
It is a collective ritual, where even the mere spectator is involved, captured images and sounds that spring from the mists of time.
Archaeological site of Civita
The archaeological site of Civita is an archaeological site located in town Civita.
The site includes a fortified town that covers about 50 hectares and has three concentric circles of stone masonry blocks square, equipped with monumental gates.
Inside, some houses have mosaic floors.
Acropolis town is situated a domus and a temple of the first century BC, the Roman model evidence accession after the conquest.
Nearby is one of the monumental gates of the city.
The fortifications were built according to established canons: an external face and an inner made of "blocks" square and the thickness between the two robes filled with stone material, the CD "Emplekton.
The site plan of Civita arouses great interest among scientists because a settlement has proved much larger than other settlements are known Basilicata.
It is assumed, so that should have a role of paramount importance and be a reference point for a vast territory.