Montescaglioso
Montescaglioso is a town in Italy near Matera in the Basilicata region. It has 10,092 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012 ) and an area of 173 km ².
Location
Montescaglioso is located 366 meters above sea level on a hill with a direct view of the Gulf of Taranto. It is located between the two main cities of Potenza and Matera. Borders the following municipalities: Bernalda, Ginosa ( TA), Matera, Miglionico, Pisticci and Pomarico.
History
Archaeologists disagree about the origin of the place name and the founding of the town. On the one hand we suspected the first evidence from the year 373 BC, on the other hand, D'Ambrosio is certain that the first settlers came from the year 655 BC. He suspects that the construction of Nestor of Pylos was carried out or carried out by Epeios, the designers of the Trojan Horse. From grave finds originate Luke vases of the 7th - 6th century BC, Attic and Apulian from the 5th to the 4th century. A Roman mosaic, which mentions a quattuorvir, suggests that the site was a Roman municipium. 1925 Hellenistic Telamon was found, which is in the Archaeological Museum in Reggio Calabria today.
The place was called in the Middle Ages Mons Caveosus, as is clear from documents of the 11th and 12th centuries. Radulphus Machabeus, the son Humfrieds was with Emma, a daughter of Roger I. married. Unlike other villages counted Montescaglioso, due to the location to secure villages in the Basilicata region. Thanks to four viewpoints, called " Cozzi " ( Torre Vedere, Serre, San Primo and San Antuono ) one was from pirate attacks and other hostile machinations warned in time and was able to take protective measures.
In the years 1880-1910 and 1957-1972 many inhabitants left the city and emigrated to Canada, USA, Switzerland, Germany or South America.
Attractions
- The Benedictine Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo ( Abbey -St- Michael - Archangel ) was founded by the Earl Humphrey of Montescaglioso, also funded by his son Radulph and King Roger II of Sicily, and already taken by Gregory VII in the papal protection, which Paschalis II and Alexander III. ( 1174 ) confirmed. Since the monastery was a forger stronghold, no reliable data can be called for the establishment. It has 365 rooms and is divided with two courtyards and two wells. Core of the abbey are the eastern of the two cloisters ( with views of the Campanile ) and the church, which was built in the late 14th century. The colonnades and frescoes by artists Luke. Since 1980 it is being renovated repeatedly and remains closed for visitors. Library and rooms were renovated and newly furnished. In 2005, these rooms were opened to the public.
Patron saint San Rocco (1295-1327)
In 1314 he came at the age of 27 years after Montescaglioso and worked as a helper and healer of humans and animals. The revered by the population statue dates from the year 1684 by an artist from Naples. It was renovated on December 16, 1907, and since then has been on the Piazza Roma. The column is 12 meters and the statue is 1.80 meters high. According to the beliefs of the inhabitants of San Rocco protected the town on August 20, 1857 against major damage of an earthquake. It is alleged that the statue leaned over the Piazza, then back again and the earthquake stopped immediately. Why celebrate on August 20 Montesen the San Rocco with festive parade in a carriage, decorated streets and a folk festival.
Carnival
The Carnival of Montescaglioso mid-February, has a long tradition. Children tailor from newspapers or from flour sacks costumes. With glue stick them to strip and go at the carnival the children with the homemade costumes from door to door and receive foods. In the evening, all the kids meet at a fire place and replace the edibles from.
Economy
One of the two main lines of business of Monteser is agriculture. Are harvested olives and processed into an oil. Also, fruits, vegetables, wines are grown, made cheese and salami. Tourism became a further source of income. Many locals earn their livelihood in the summer in the shops.