|
|
|
|
Search by Area Maddalena Island |
Calopezzati - Cosenza
Origins going back before the Byzantine civilization are improbable. The evolution of Calopezzati took place presumably in the first half of the 11th century, by an aggregation of people forming the feudal village around the monastery of S.Nicola, erected by Greek monks at the foot of the hills where the town lies today.It was not unusual for monasteries to preside over the formation of towns during the maximum presence of the Byzantines in Calabria. Monks who had arrived in hordes fleeing from religious persecution, had no longer reason to hide in this friendly land. The places where confraternities of hermits with their cells and grottoes already existed, later became sites for their monasteries, calling upon the nearby farmers and labourers to cultivate the land. This request for labour force, satisfied at first by the nearby villagers, eventually determined a spontaneous flow of people who established themselves around the monastery which appeared undoubtedly to guarantee major safety. The monastic cells of Giardinello, a perfect example of the hermit-like period, and the discovery of two groups of ruins in the area, one in the area known as S.Nicola with the remains of a church rontal, the other situated lower down the hillside, an ancient set of foundations upon an embankment known as Mulinello, lead us to believe that this was probably the site where the monastery was erected. A sheltered area, at the foot of the hills, summed up by the word Calopezzati, a toponym which is the faithful transliteration of a Greek form which has become of common use, certainly from the Romaic or neo-Hellenic period, with pure themes of the ancient Attic dialect spoken in Asia Minor, from where the monks had sailed,those beautiful (safe) slopes. The security of the place did not prevent the terrified monks from fleeing once more, this time from the fury of the Muslim forces striking the Ionian coasts, overwhelming even the Byzantine regular army, as occurred in the battle of Gerace. The monastery, abandoned after less than a century and a half, was later reopened by the politically wise Normans. In 1285, it was made part of the Patire di Rossano; after that, nothing else was known. The oldest document in the history of the town of Calopezzati is the confirmation by Clemente 1V of the diploma assigned by the Archbishop Angelo of Rossano to Paolo Mezzabarba, abbot of the Patire, which gives a somewhat reductive version of the controversial chapter regarding the origins. Meanwhile, those farmers who had been joined by other pious people, including Byzantine refugees from Costantinople, now ithout protection, had moved up into the hills to avoid the dangers coming from the sea, laying the foundations for a social aggregation and defence organization which, within a short time, was to make Calopezzati one of the safest and most envied towns. A stronghold was built at the highest point, a primitive bulwark, which in time, according to differences in defence strategies, was transformed into a quadrangular fort, which, the Normans first and the Angevins later, fortified with their respective systems. The more technically advanced fortifications made by the Swabians in the 13th century brought about the building of the Castle and its walls with the seaward bastions, giving the town the strategic characteristics which remained unaltered throughout the entire feudal period. A sequence of historically recorded feudal ownership begins with the Caputo family: from Gualterello to Giovanni, therefore to Nita, his daughter who married Galgano La Marra; having left no children, the fief then passed onto Covella Ruffo, Countess of Altomonte by succession from her first husband Jacopuzzo della Marra ( known as La Marra!), who already before marrying was Lord of 'Riuolo e Collepezzatò as probable heir of Nita and Galgano. Through Covella Ruffo, the fief passed to the Sanseverino family (1447) by the succession of Antonio, son of her second marriage to Ruggero Sanseverino, Count of Tricarico. Except for a brief interruption, following the Barons conspiracy in favour of the Abenante and Crispano, the Sanseverino kept the fief until 1570, followed by the Spinelli of Tarsia and then by the Mandatoriccio who bought it in 1598. Then, in 1698, through succession, it passed to the Sambiase who were the last owners. The Sambiase family elected Calopezzati to be their residence, consequently, the town already being a 'Università' , flourished due to their culture and prestige. Not only were they Lords of Calopezzati but Princes of Campana, Dukes of Crosia and Counts of Bocchigliero. Felice Nicola Sambiase was Grande di Spagna, a privilege which permitted him to sit next to the King in the Seat of Naples at Porta Nuova. The Castle of CalopezzatiIt was completely transformed from a Fort into a Castle during the 13th century. Although undergoing drastic readjustments, owing both to the change in defensive strategies and to the architectural evolution corresponding to the wishes of the various owners, who wanted not only a fortress but also a prestigious residence, the Castle has maintained its principal architectural characteristics, its impressive volume and the four towers protruding slightly from the quadrangular body, typical features of the Swabian castle. The primitive entrance on the north-eastern side is still intact, with the beautiful tower staircase and drawbridge, the fundamental expression of Medieval architecture. In the 16th century, the height was reduced, the towers were embattled, the entrance was moved to the town side, modifying the moat. During the 18th century the Sambiase gave it the mark of the century by making changes to the living quarters and adding refined sculptural decorations. Also to be admired is the 15th century double lancet window set in the Hall overlooking the internal courtyard, the refined late Baroque library, several ceilings, monumental fireplaces, a small wrought iron gate of fine craftsmanship at the foot of the great staircase. This is one of the most suggestive castles in Calabria due to the optimal state of conservation to which the actual owners have contributed with the careful restorations effectuated at the end of the 1930s. The Church of the AddolorataAdjoining the Castle, it is worth mentioning apart for its important cultural and artistic value. Little is known of its origins, but undoubtedly it was the Sambiase who endowed it with great dignity, opening the present doorway onto the square, erecting the belfry and above all furnishing it. There having buried her husband Alfonso and her daughter Anna Maria, Vittoria Sambiase Piccolomini d'Aragona further beautified the Church. The built-in altar piece is richly carved in golden painted wood, work of master carvers and stucco decorators belonging to the Neapolitan School, one of the finest examples of Rococò art in Calabria. Some of the valuable wooden statues, presumably of the same period as those in the church, were later transferred to the Castle. The Convent of the Reformers - It is the second outstanding architectural monument of the town. It was planned by a certain Joannes Campitellus and built by Prince Bartolomeo Sambiase against the ruling of the Church, as a sign of his prestige. Clemente XI, personally entreated, authorized the opening to take place in 1702. It was entrusted to the order of minor monks of S.Francesco of Assisi (Reformers). It was later suppressed by the Napoleonic laws and was made property of the Hospital of S.Giovanni of Rossano; it became private property when, in 1866, the Italian State, with a public auction, liquidated definitively the property of the Church. Its brief ecclesiastic life, hardly one century, felt the crisis that the Church and monasteries were going through. The last part of its history was more political and civil than religious: here the last resistance against the French troops was organized, led by Brother Vincenzo Aversa and the popular revolutionary M. Rosa Boccuti, which ended with their execution after a summary trial. The attacks by the French artillery, the earthquake and fires had reduced it to ruins, but a meticulous restoration lasting almost three years returned it to its antique glory. From a structural point of view it conforms to the Benedictine type of monastery adopted by most of the monastic orders. The prospect facing the large square in front of the town is made up by the rectangular church with a single nave, forming the head of the two bodies of the convent which can be entered through the arched doorway on the right, whilst on the left the entrance to the vestry is visible. The facade of the church was inspired by the early 17 th century southern style, of a composed elegance although decorated with simple elements where terracotta and stone blend together. Mitigated by a double line of pillars along the sides and by the overlapping trabeations decorated in terracotta with a superior relief. The doorway, delimited by prominent thin bricks, is surmounted by a delicately proportioned triple rose window. The cloister, a valuable stylistic element, represents the Arte Povera Calabrese, present until well into the 17th century with elements dating back to the previous century, far from any Baroque influence. The doorway with a crossed vault defines the channel for collecting the water coming from the impluvium, on which is situated the mouth of the cistern. It is built onto twelve pillars in the form of a Greek cross with slightly low curved bearing arches, with a typical Renaissance style double cornice. The capitals, just visibly outlined in thinner terracotta bricks, confer surprising mystic levity to the proportions of such a compact system, supporting the fittings between the bases of the pillars and giving the right earthly touch. The Madonna of the RosarioOf artistic and cultural value, an oil painting on canvas, 80 x 120, depicting the Madonna of the Rosary with the child between Saint Domenico and Saint Catherine, overlooking souls from purgatory. Fifteen medallions depicting mystery scenes frame the figures. The famous painting, belonging to the Neapolitan School of the late 17th century (from the workshop of Solimena!), occupies the altar piece in the Chapel of the Rosary in the Parish Church. The Christening Font in the Parish ChurchTo be found in the left hand nave of the Mother Church; carved in stone and placed on a base of oriental style small columns which form a balustrade around the Font. The coat of arms of the Sambiase family indicates the period (17th century). The Ruins of the Church of Santa Maria delle GrazieA small church outside the town walls at the beginning of the old mule track leading to the town of Crosia. Nothing is known as to its origins and history which merit further research. Worth mentioning is the beautiful portal dating back to the 15th century. Hotel B&B Calopezzati
Official website: http://www.comune.calopezzati.cs.it |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| © - Powered by Toscana by Net - Realizzazioni siti internet - Email: info[at]firenze-online.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
