An independent municipality since 1938, Crosia dates back to the Sybaritic survivors put to rout by the army of Crotone in the 6th century B. C. near Trionto. Reliable news, however, dates from the Late Middle Ages.
Its name, which according to Rohlfs and Lenormant derives from the Greek word chrusèa (meaning golden place), seems to relate to local gold and silver mines, the most famous of which were productive at Longobucco as late as the 18th century.
In 1601, Marafioti calls it Crisia. Actually, it had already been known as Crosia. In a tax book of 1325, for instance, it is quoted among the hamlets of Rossano where a certain Basilio Cappelanus Crusi is expected to pay 3 tarì and 5 grani.
Feudal succession is less clear and rather fragmentary. It is known for certain that in the 14th century Crosia was registered as a property of the Ruffo family, the last of which was Niccolò, chamberlain of King Ladislao, who died leaving no heirs. The fief, which under the direct line of succession was to go to the Marquis of Crotone, as his closest relative, on account of the latter’s opposition to the Court of Naples, was annexed by Queen Giovanna, in 1417, to the Principality of Rossano and bestowed on Princess Polissena Riffo. She was succeeded by her sister Covella and her nephew Marino Marzano. Following the Barons’ second plot against the Court, in which Marzano played a magna pars, the Principality and therefore Crosia, too, became Crown property. Probably for a short period in the 15th century (1471-72), but we cannot give it as a fact, the fief was granted to Tommaso Guindazzo, who was also the lord of Pietrapaola and Cropalati.
In 1503, Crosia was purchased, along with Caloveto and Cropalati, by Ferdinando d'Aragona, whose family kept it until 1593.
This was the year in which Maria d'Aragona gave it for 20,650 ducats to Giovan Michele Mandatoriccio from Rossano. The latter’s son, Teodoro, in 1625, was awarded the title of Duke of Crosia by Philip IV of Naples, which only gave him jurisdiction Aintra parietes et in homines in the village, whereas the territory, being in tenimentum of Rossano, remained under the feudal jurisdiction of the prince.
The Duke of Crosia was also entitled to the Tower of S.Tecla, built in the 15th century as a defensive watchtower against Turkish raids.
In 1596, Michele Mandatoriccio also purchased from Laudomia Grisara the Mirto estate, which, along with the Mastrodattia of Caloveto yielded 800 ducats a year.
Two years later, he enlarged the estate with the barony of Calopezzati, which he purchased from Vespasiano Spinelli for 25.500 ducats.
It seems likely that Duke Michele Mandatoriccio changed the dedication of the deanery which, at least as late as 1596, according to a Vatican Register, was still generically dedicated to S. Angelo, into S. Michele Arcangelo. The newly-elected dean was then D.Giovanni M.Rainerio, who had succeeded Agostino Migliorini (or Misischi).
Having Francesco Mandatoriccio died heirless (1676), the fief passed to his sister Vittoria and through her, to her husband Giuseppe Sambiase after a long lawsuit with the Toscano family from Rossano, relatives of Mandatoriccio. The dispute ended with a settlement by which Sambiase was acknowledged his claim to succession upon payment of 16.000 ducats to the Toscano family, which was eventually replaced by the transfer of the Arso estate to the Mandatoriccio property.
The religious history of the village is also very interesting. In the early 17th century, apart from the deanery of S. Michele quoted above, at Crosia were also the Church of the Visitation, S. Antonio Abate, S. Maria della Pietà, the Chapel of the Castle of Mirto for which, in 1635, the Duke obtained a special papal indult.
No trace is left today of the Dominicans’ Friary dissolved in 1652 for lack of livelihood and of the Confraternities of the Rosario and Sacramento once annexed to the Mother Church.
The old town, with its narrow streets and ancient buildings, is well worth a visit, along with the interesting architecture of the Castle of Mirto which rises above the sea and the olive grove plain.
The modern centre of Mirto with its Lido Centofontane, the Pantano and the areas of Sorrenti and Quardicelli have greatly enhanced the urban, demographic and commercial development of the old town of Crosia. The number of inhabitants, which were 792 in 1767, rose to 1466 in 1951. Today it is about 7000.
Places of interest. The Lily Tower (Torre del Giglio), dating from 1450 - S. S. 531 at the 4,6 km for Crosia. The S. Tecla Tower (Torre di S. Tecla), in Contrada Fiumarella, built by Antonio II of Aragona in the 14th century, by decree of the Viceroy Don Pedro of Toledo. The Castle of Mirto (Castello di Mirto) , built by the baron Giovan Michele Mandatoriccio (early 17th century). Chiesa Mater Dolorosa (Madonna della Pietà), dating back to the early 16th century, scene of extraordinary events (apparition of the Madonna, weeping of the Statue of the Pietà etc.), that every year attracts hundreds of pilgrims from all over Italy and from abroad. Mother Church S. Michele Arcangelo, dating from about the 11th century. The Church of the Divino Cuore di Gesù (Mirto), late 1950s, enriched with fine mosaic works of the Florentine school of Mellini. Casino della Vota, ancient peasant country house.
Typical food produce. Highly valuable olive oil; first quality oranges and tangerines; sardella; sarde salate, sopressate; salsiccie; capicollo; maccheroni a ferretti; tagliolini e ceci; cavatelli al sugo; peperoni del filaro; crustuli with honey or cooked must; turdiddi with cooked must; fritti a vento.
An independent municipality since 1938, Crosia dates back to the Sybaritic survivors put to rout by the army of Crotone in the 6th century B. C. near Trionto. Reliable news, however, dates from the Late Middle Ages.
