Rocchetta Sant'
Antonio is a country adjacent with the Basilicata and the Campania, and is
situated in the high river basin of the Ofanto river (the longest pugliese
river) in the preappennino foggiano.The origins
He has developed himself on the top of a hill (630 m s.l.m.) round to a strong
“Castel Sant' Antimo”, of origin uncertain since the Cuozzo student
attributes the construction of the fort to the Normanni in year 1050 while
according to Kind Giovanni, clergyman and author of the cronistoria of Rocchetta,
the foundation of the country is work of Greco Bizzantini in year 984. One
what is sure, the name of first feudatario “ROBERTO OF the TORPO”
which reigned from 1081 to 1120. The fortress was of square shape with four
towers (one of it still partially existing and restructured in 2006), was
contornata from one encircled building with door to east and with varied towers
(two of these was situated where currently they are erected: the tower of
the clock and the pointed tower of the castle Of Aquino).Toponomastica
Rocchetta Sant' Antonio from its birth has assumed various names: in origin
“Oppidum Rocca” was called, Cliffs Sant' Antimo”, “Sant'
Antimo in Rocca”, “Rocchetta of Puglia” and at last odierno
the name Rocchetta Sant' Antonio”The Age of the empire Romano
important strategic place (because it embraces Lucania, Irpinia and Tavoliere
of the Puglie), was already conteso in the century YOU between Bizantini and
Longobardi. The rocca it is situated on a type of Sandstone stone that was
object of exchange in century thousands.
In the rocchettano territory, and just on the sides of the Ofanto river, they
are present traces of the supremacy of the Roman Empire;. Recent diggings
in locality “Bluglia” have made to recover the perimeter of a
going back city agglomerate to III the century a.c. A lot probably only the
only traces of the ancient city of the fluvial commerce Hercolanum. This city
lived, exactly thanks to the commerce that happened along the Ofanto river
called from the Aufidus Roman. The roman city small boasted also a prestigious
Tempio dedicated to the goddess Venere whose traces are by now passings, even
if in the territory never it has not been programmed one true and own campaign
of diggings. Moreover speaking about Roman and Rocchetta it is easy to remember
“Fontana of Pirro” and the bridge of “Venere Saint”.
This last one constructed on a Ofanto river, were used from the Roman in order
to connect the three Regions, were called therefore, exactly because in the
pressed ones there was the tempio sopraccitato. Around to “Fontana of
Pirro”, instead, a legend reigns, that is it is narrated that Pirro,
come down from the Epiria (281 a.C.), with the elephants, in order to fight
the Roman (battles happened in the territory of Ascoli Satriano to 20 km from
Rocchetta), has stopped this Fontana in order to water the great pachyderms.The
Dauni and the Sanniti
Lately they have been finds again in the territory of the traces of neolithic
villages us to you, that they demonstrate as the citizen has been popolata
from the beginning of the history of the man, of are archaeological tool and
testimonies the reperti vasellami several of Dauna age and also of the traces
of the sannita civilization that often was pushed until mounts of the daunia
in order hunting. The terriroio moreover it is scattered from many regarding
fossils mosses, licheni, crustaceans that attest the morphology of the territory
that in the course of the history has been modified passing from a swampy
level to one to collinare mounts.Middle Ages
After along feudale game, the country taken to extend on the left and to right
on the slope of it originates them hill. First to rise, outside of it walls
of the old fortress, was sure the new castle, built up from Ladislao II of
Aquino, Marquis of Corato, that it acquired feudo from King the Ferdinand
Of Aragon.
Castle D' Aquino
The castle was constructed in 1507 (perhaps on plan of Francisco di George
Martini), executed in limestone stones of color yellow-ocher. To the top a
pointed, only merlata tower rises in its kind, that prow of one represents
one ship. But more than defense work, it was constructed for pomp of the house
of Aquino. On its door of income, in a lapide marmorea under the coat of arms
of the house of Aquino, that shield with polpo and two rampanti lions represents
one, the following epigrafe is read:Ladislao d' Aquino the young person
Getlteman of the subordinate barony
Having bought this earth of Rocchetta,
it makes to construct this castle with just the money
in the year of health MCCCCCVII (1507)The castle passed to the Doria family,
the coat of arms of which it is affisso on the left facade of the pointed
tower, that it dominated for two centuries (1609-1810). Later on in 1849,
with to the mount Alvaro and to other caseggiati of the common one, it was
sold the Small family that still today is some in possession.
Recent studies lead from the Ass. Cultural Liberations thanks to the professional
contribution of the Prof. Raffaele Licinio (teaching of medioevale History
to the Barium University) truth hidden on the prestigious Castle is emerged
one. Indeed second the student the castle me be realized in two various moments.
First part, that is the pointed tower is sure one of turns out to you of the
work “of incastellamento “of the Orsini Family that diets sent
just to Francisco di George Martini, companion of art of the prestigious Leonardo
From Vinci, to realize one series of fortresses in the meridione of Italy.
Therefore the main tower of the cinquecentesca fortress of Rocchetta is a
lot probably the result of a prototype of tower of guard and defense of the
Martini artist. In fact the conformity is typical of a new prototype of military
constructions of fine Middle Ages much and more strongly compact one also
for the inpegate new bombarte just in those years in the war field. According
to the Martini, from the defensive point of view, the city is like the body
of the man, where the role of the head is carried out from the Rocca, motor
center called to guarantee the emergency of the collectivity. With the pointed
tower, the Martini wanted to experience the prototype of rocca the circular,
leaving from the presupposed one that superficial the round ones more were
adapted to schivare the balls of the frightening bomb dropping gears. And'
covered from one net of narrow galleries destined to put in relation the several
place of lookout-post, second one outline of much effective communication
in case of enemy attack. Peculiar scarpato is its triangular strut, that it
remembers the rocca of Saint Leo (the most known and celebrated between the
fortresses of the Montefeltro): for this it has been assumed that also the
jobs of potenziamento of the defensive system of the territory were here realize
to you from the Martini. But this castle was not never really used from the
Orsini, than after a campaign of gone espensione badly they returned towards
the regions of the north of Italy and therefore the splendid tower was sold
with entire feudo to Ladislao II D' Aquino whom it made to complete the fortress
widening the castle with the plesso secondary, and at the same time succeeded
with much cleverness to buy up all the merits of the work being made to disappear
every trace of the participation of the Orsini.The Ancient Village and Palace
of the Seat
Approximately after a century from the construction of the Fortress, century
must to that one of the Seat (XVI), that it had like scope to re-unite important
city assemblies inside. Its function was just that one to represent the civic
power of the city, in fact it arches to it are the emblema of the sovereignty.
Integrating part and wonderful frame of the ancient village are the multiple
presence of signorili Palaces furnish you from wonderful fresco to the ìinterno
and from portli, representing balconies and loggette the anthropomorhic coats
of arms of the lineage carved in stone or or figue, are believed that these
sculptures were made not as well as for aesthetic how much the more in order
removing the misfortune and “malocchio” from the rooms or the
entire road.When the history becomes legend
The country, than dilungò far and wide, did not change only to the
shape but also its name: from Cliffs Sant' Antimi divenne Rocchetta Sant'
Antonio (odierno the name), thanks to a hermit Egyptian lived from the 252
to the 356 d.C of name Antonio, which (second a popular history) but the small
center from a barbaric attack that sure would have carried to the destruction
of the Country. According to the Sant legend' Antonio Abbot, appeared to the
enemy soldiers with of flames in hand on the mount Calvary (to the entrance
of the Country) scattered from many small bonfires. The soldiers, to that
evocative vision for fear scapparono leaving the unharmed country from the
sure destruction. From that day the citizens beginning from the institutions,
celebrate (the 16 and 17 January) this important event with one evocative
and folkloristic contest of Bonfires.The church Matrix
And just to Sant' Antonio was entitled the parochial church (hour dedicated
to the Assumption of the B.V.M.). This last one was built up between 1754
and 1768 (given of the consacrazione) and planned from Giovanni Mancarelli
di Barletta (executed then from the Silvestro craftsmen and Saturday Inch)
for will of loved Monsignor D. The tempio it is of rectangular shape to only
Latin cross having three navate subdivided in main, a final one with the presbiterio,
and two lateral ones. To the encounter of the navate ones a cupola with of
is formed putties policromi representing the four Evangelisti (artist of Ariane
Irpino); to sides of the cupola two altars in honor of Sant' Antonio Abbot
and the Given pain one are risen. An other altar dedicated to the Madonna
of the Cardellino conserve one of the most precious tables guarded in this
tempio representing, exactly, the Madonna of the Cardellino that commonly
was nicknamed with the title it of Maria Assumed in sky, the shovel of valuable
manufacture laughed them to XXVI the century and is considered one of the
more important works of the entire Puglia region.
All and the two lateral navate ones are crowned beautifulst altars with putty
and marbles of the artist Luigi Cimafonte of Naples - that I realize the more
important churches and catturali of the noon of Italy and the Papal State.
Beginning from the income in navata the lateral right the altars of Saint
Filomena, Sant can be admired' Antonio of Padova, the Madonna of the Rosary,
Sant' Antonio Abbot (enriched from putty and bassorilievi that ritraggono
the miracle of the Saint), and Saint Vincenzo, in the other navata one can
be appreciated the Pasquale altars Saint (which guard one beautifulst statue
of wood), the Madonna of the Cardellino and the Given pain one. The sacrestia
and equipped with a ligneo furnishings with benches in clear walnut, of late
baroque it realizes from L. Villani to you in the XVIII, in the meticulous
furnishings is grafted unorologio to I hang it, in more can be scrutare on
the four walls embellished from putties settecentesche ritraenti burlaps the
Birth of Maria, the Deposition of Jesus (Mercy), Mons. Loved Onorato and D
and ligneo means busto of Sant' Antonio Abbot. Particular and valuable the
Ecce Homo di Nicholas Brudaglio, the lignea sculpture of Neapolitan school
laughed them to the seven hundred and meticulously are carved with particular
and chromatic paintings of remarkable impèortnaza. Importnate anchela
collection of is gone sacred and of liturgici members. Between these a pisside
of silver of the 600 cesellata by hand and representing it is made of the
passion, a professional cross in silver of local school, a cross in bone multiple
ivory and silver and decreases to us, ostensori and reliquiari that make from
frame the imposing apse. Splendid the facade shared in multiple lesene, (decorative
prominence to column shape), with part centers them concave and equipped of
pregevole portale. Down in bottom to the Church, soprastante to the apse,
appears a wonderful organ with cantoria of the second half of the 700, low,
behind the greater altar, is the chorus of black walnut more turns out one
of the succeeded works than Freed Villani, constructed in 1790, the pulpit
is bound together to the organ and of golden color. To sides of the organ
are two representing burlaps the birth of Jesus and the dispute of the doctors
in the tempio. Precious it is the marmoreo furnishings, composed from splendid
balustrades with basket of flowers, two to acquasantiere and altars it realizes
to you from Luigi Cimafonte of Naples, particular is the greater altar in
marble white man with the beautifulst one tabernacolo. To left navata half
the nail head of the Sacramento is opened that ingloba the cinquecentesca
bell tower pertaining to the previous church of which they have been finds
again you of the rests during the last restorations. In the frescoed nail
head they can be admired of splendid regarding burlaps the Pentacost, Saint
Francisco di Sales and, the Last Supper. After the earthquake of 1980 during
of the jobs of restoration under the burlap of the last supper it is is recovered
a realized copy of the same one previously and then covered because, probably
it did not appeal to to the author. Thanks to the job of the soprintendenza
hour all and the two burlaps, “beautiful and the ugly copy” (therefore
have been renamed) can be admired inside of the tempio sacred. The bell tower
of 1588 is executed from Angelo Mancini, for will of mathematical bishop Mark
Pedoca (to which the below public square to the bell tower is registered),
the tower has an octagonal body crowned from one maiolicata cuspidata cupolina.
Annexed to the church “binnacle” is a small called oratory that
served like place of reunion of the Confraternite still existing under the
confraternita name of of the B.V.M of Thanks and the Immaculate Conception.Signorili
palaces
In the pressed ones of the Matrix there is a palace, pertaining to the Bartimmo
family, than conserve a wonderful settecentesco portale and a loggetta to
three it arches. More in here, and just in via Giuseppe Sciretta, a going
back palace to the seven hundred partially restructured that conserve also
a wonderful one loggetta to three arches with, to the apex of the arc exists
centers them, an angel in stone.Churches rupestri convents and times
One small nail head rises on cucuzzolo of the country, dedicated to S. the
Giuseppe, than conserve one representing the six hundred burlap of the Sacred
Family and the splendid statues of S. Lucia, Saint Maria di Costantinopoli,
Saint Giuseppe, Saint Maria Incoronata. To the right of this nail head there
is a portale of house Mattia or datable Giannettti to XVII the century.
Towards the rione “Pescarella”, instead, we can find a church
entitled to the B.V.M of Thanks with a beautifulst portale baroque late style,
to its inside three wonderful regarding burlaps can be admired the Saintest
Trinità and the B.V.M of the Carmine and one representing Maria Vergine
of Thanks. In state of restoration, small church dedicated to S. Giovanni,
navata only and with a simple facade with a rosone is one in stone, in past
was here conserved wonderful busto ligneo of Christ to the column signed from
Antonio the Nicholas Brudaglio (hour situated in the Church Mother). Annexed
to the Church there is Palazzo Bortone is believed that before being a signorile
residence it was a convent. Of the palace it can be admired the portale and
the loggetta beyond to characteristic finestroni the ovals. An other Church
is placed towards the center of the country dedicated to the Immaculate Conception
(XVIII century), with a wonderful facade and a portale similar to the matrix,
inside is conserved one burlap of the artist representing Scogniamiglio Rocchetta
to aim seven hundred. In Association of Bologna is Revived Christ, to its
right the Vergine Blessed soul Maria of the Sink that seizes for hand Giuseppe
Mastrostefano, the poor miracolato peasant, and its moglie Olimpia Di Tuccio;
instead to the left of Christ there are kneels down the two Knows to you protecting
of the country that is S. Rocco and Sant' Antonio to you Abbot. Turning the
look in the outskirtses of the country, a small convent dedicated to S is
noticed. Announced Maria (S. Maria of Giuncarico) pertaining to the Benedictines
connects you to the abbey of Quarry in medieval age. In the before large square
erge one Cross with sculpture on ambo the facades of Christ Crocifisso and
the datable Vergine to XVI the century. In passed to Rocchetta they existed
many nonexistent rural churches hour. We can but remember the more important
that is the nail head of the Mercy, and the Church dedicated to S. Lorenzo,
situated on the mount omonimo; the Church on the knoll of S. Peter. On this
last mount they are still present of the coves in which they came placed the
dead men during the pestilenze. Moreover it is believed that the same ones
can be the ancient one cripta of one church and perhaps just the basements
of the Church of Saint Peter. One of the antichi convents is that one than
S. Stefano. Built up in a strategic point, it was lead and trained from monaci
making the part of the abbey of Quarry; S. Stefano confines to east with the
Ofanto river, settentrione with the Federal property of Candle and is dipped
in folto a boschivo mantle that the proteggeva from the insidie of the time.
From the other part of the country a rural nail head in honor of the Madonna
of the Sink, protecting of Rocchetta can be noticed that in 1709 I realize
multiple miracles thanks to the' water donated miraculously to Giuseppe Mastrostefano,
a peasant of rocchetta that in the torrid day of 24 August the Saint made
thirsty and stremato vergine prayed because. From which every moment year
in the August month the citizens of rocchetta move themselves in pilgrimage
towards the nail head in order then to carry in settecentesca processione
l'0effige of the madonna of the sink. Evocative it is also the ignition of
the stoppie that ago give frame to the processione and that in past it served
in order to make light to the pilgrims during the nocturnal processione.Population
The country after the maximum peak in the seven hundred (approximately 7000
inhabitants) subbi a migratory flow that to ridoto the population to approximately
2000 inhabitants. Between the causes, the lack of development and job and
the necessity to find conditions elsewhere better. The greater part of emigrating
was concentrated for this reason in the province of Turin and just to Collegno,
and that over recent years Collegno and Rocchetta have tightened a gemellaggio
pact that will serve to the two population for one common development. Between
the been born illustrious citizens to Rocchetta, Maria cannot itself not be
remembered Teresa Di Lascia, than in 1995 with the posthumous novel “Passage
in Shadow” gained the Prize Witch.