MAMMOLA
The village of Mammola is positioned on
the margins of the territory of the Aspromonte National
Park, not too distant from the Southern Ionian coasts
of Calabria.
History
Some scholars identified it with the ancient Magno-Greek
colony of Malea or Melea (V century BC), as remembered by
the historian and Greek general, Tucidide.
It is more likely that the present day centre rose up on the
ruins of the ancient Greek colony during the Byzantine era
(X century) following Saracen raids which pushed its inhabitants
from the coast towards more secure inland areas. Here there
were definitely already Basilian monk communities which were
active in Calabria since the VIII century.
In particular, it was San Nicodemo who was active (900-990),
when he founded the homonymous monastery on Mount Cellerano.
The village appeared in a document of the S. Nicodemo Monastery
dating back to the XII century by the name of Mammula, therefore
tying its history to that of neighbouring Grotteria.
Under the Angioinians it was assigned to the following families:
Giovanni Ruffu (1283), Lauria (1303), Sebrasio (1309), del
Prato (until 1342) and the Luna (until 1400).
Under the Aragonese it was entrusted to the following families:
Caracciolo (until 1455), Correale (until 1501), Carafa (until
1540), under whom Mammola became a baronage.
These families were then followed by the: Galiego, Loffredo
(until 1573), Ruffo (until 1574), de Pazzi (until 1577), Aragona
d’Ayerbe (until 1592), Joppolo (until 1677) and the
Spina (until 1735).
Under the Bourbons, the following families ascended to power:
Barreca (until 1748), De Gregorio, who ruled until the subversion
of feudalism (1806).
Mammola and its inhabitants adhered to the Carbonari movements
(1820-21), the Risorgimento (1848) and the Unitarians (1860).
Following the unification into the Reign of Italy (1861),
Mammola experienced the brigandage phenomenon and that of
emigration across the ocean (‘900).
A visit to the City
A visit to Mammola is very evocative, given the Medieval
structure of the village and the rich architectonic and artistic
patrimony that it preserves. There are numerous nobiliary
buildings to admire while walking through the alleyways, which
suddenly give panoramic glimpses of the surrounding hills.
The churches are remarkable for their numbers and artistic
value, among which we would like to point out: the S. Nicola
of Bari Matrix Church and the Annunziata Church with its beautiful
façade. Outside Mammola one can visit the San Biagio
Abbey dating back to the X century.
In the interior of the Aspromonte National Park, apart from
numerous naturalistic excursions, one must visit the San Nicodemo
Monastery.
Place of interest
- Chiesa dell'Annunziata ('700)
- Chiesa Matrice San Nicola di Bari (bizantina)
- Chiesa del Monte Carmelo (1590)
- Chiesa dell'Annunziata
- Chiesa di San Filippo Neri (XVIII sec.)
- Chiesa di San Giuseppe (1728)
- Grancia Basiliana di San Biagio (X sec.)
- La Madonnina (1594)
- Fontana
- Palazzo Municipale
- Palazzo Del Pozzo (XVII sec.)
- Palazzo Del Feudatario (XVI sec.)
- Palazzo Florido (XVII sec.)
- Palazzo Ferrari (XVIII sec.)
- Palazzo Piccolo (XIX sec.)
- Palazzo Spina (XVIII sec.)
- Palazzo Barillaro
- Casa Tarantino
- Resti del Monastero, S. Nicodemo
- Chiesa di S. Nicodemo
- Monastero di S. Barbara
- Necropoli di Monte Scifo
- Visita a Grotteria
- Parco Nazionale dell'Aspromonte
- Visita a Marina di Gioiosa
- Visita di Locri
- Sito Archeologico di Locri Epizefiri
- Visita di Polistena
- Visita di Roccella Jonica
Museums
- Santa Barbara Art Foundation, Monastero di Santa Barbara
Events
- Festa di S. Nicodemo il 12 Marzo
- Processione della Domenica delle Palme
- Processione del Venerdì Santo al Monte Calvario
- Processione della Domenica di Pasqua con la "Sbelata"
in Piazza Ferrari
- Processione dell’Annunziata la domenica dopo Pasqua
- Festa di S. Nicodemo la domenica successiva al 12 Maggio,
Santuario di S. Nicodemo
- Sagra dello Stocco il 9 agosto
- Festa di S. Nicodemo il venerdì, sabato e la 1°
domenica di settembre
- Festa della Ricotta Affumicata la 1° domenica di giugno
- Festa del Fungo l'ultima domenica di ottobre.
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