AMENDOLARA

Amendolara is situated in the northern part of Calabria, not too far from the Jonic coast.

History

The presence of man on the territory is testified beginning in the Neolithic period (6000-3.500 BC) and became more certain during the Bronze Age (3500-1.200 BC), thanks to an Enotrian settlement in the Rione Vecchio area.

As a result of the foundation of Sibari by the Achei (720 BC), the entire Jonic coast became quickly Hellenised and the settlement transferred to the S. Nicola hills, thus acquiring the name of Lagaria.

During the Roman era, there was a Stazione di posta (ancient rest stop) called Statio ad Vicesimum. There are still some of its ruins in the Masseria Lista area.

Its present day name seems to derive from the Latin Amygdalaria, with reference to almond production. The name then mutated to Lamendolara, Mendolara, Mendolaria and finally Amendolara.

After Roman domination and subsequent Barbaric invasions, Amendolara merged into the western territories of the Eastern Roman Empire. An abbey was constructed in the Greek rites and a Castle (1000). The reinforcement of the Castle, founded by the Longobards, coincided firstly, with the arrival of the Normans (mid XI century) and then the Swabians (1194-1266).

Over the centuries it belonged to the following nobility: Della Marra, Montatlto, Cognetta, Gambacorta, S. Felice, S. Severino, Caraffa, Pignatelli of Cerchiara, Pignone, Castrocucco, Loffredo, De Nobili, Pignatelli of Bello Sguardo and finally the Gallerano family.

During the '600s and '700s, following the birth of powerful new social ranks, some nobiliary palaces were constructed, which today still embellish Amendolara.

Amendolara was the birthplace of the humanist Pomponio Leto (1428-97).

A visit to the City

The Santa Margherita Church is the main Romanesque monument of Amendolara with 18th century adjustments. It preserves a portal with an acute arch from the 14th Century and frescoes from the XV century in its interior.
The S. Maria Church, which preserves a Byzantine dome-shaped roof and apse and the Annunziata Church (IX-X century), also with a Byzantine dome-shaped structure, are noteworthy.

Very little remains of the Castle, already a Longobard and Norman fortress, which was restored by Frederick II in 1239.
The ruins of the wall and a furnace/kiln from the VI century BC situated on the San Nicola hills, are what remain from the distant past. The numerous finds discovered during digs in the XIX century are exhibited in the Vincenzo Laviolo State Archaeological Museum.

There are numerous churches and eremitic grottoes around and in Amendolara, testifying to religious life during the High Medieval period.

Place of interest

- Chiesa Matrice di Santa Margherita Vergine e Martire
- Castello (restaurato nel 1239)
- Cappella dell'Annunziata o Cappella dei Greci, o Santa Maria della Lista (IX-X sec.)
- Chiesa di San Giovanni o Chiesa Armena (X sec.)
- Chiesa di Santa Maria
- Palazzo Andreassi
- Palazzo Blefari
- Palazziata
- Palazzo Pucci di Amendolara (1736)
- Palazzo Grisolia (1521)
- Chiesa di San Domenico (1660)
- Cappella di Sant'Antonio Abate (origine bizantina, rifatta nel 1930)
- Cappella di Santa Lucia (1960)
- Chiesa di San Giovanni
- Cappelle gentilizie di Sant'Anna e di San Rocco
- Museo archeologico statatale Vincenzo Laviola
- Area archeologica della città greco-arcaica di Lagaria
- Torre Spaccata (1517)
- Cappella della Madonna delle Grazie nel bosco di Straface
- Sorgente di Trastullo
- Visita di Roseto Capo Spulico
- Visita di Rocca Imperiale
- Visita di Canna
- Visita di Oriolo
- Visita di Policoro
- Visita di Rotondella
- Visita di Tursi
- Parco Nazionale del Pollino

Museums

- Museo Archeologico statatale Vincenzo Laviola

Events

- The Feast of Sant'Antonio Abate on the 3rd Sunday of January;
- Feast of San Giuseppe on 19th March;
- Feast of the Madonna dell'Annunziata on 24th March;
- Feast of San Vincenzo Ferreri on the last Sunday in April.

AMENDOLARA
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Calabria region of Italy
 

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