INGLESE

 CAMPANA

CAMPANA ( perhaps it is the corruption of the ancient CALASERNA, in the late Byzantine period; in existence in 1324);

by Luigi Renzo

Altitude: from 140 to 1232 mt above sea level (Cozzo del Ferro).

Area: about 10279 hectares.

Inhabitants: 2.643 (Istat 2001).

Town Hall: Piazza del Parlamento (Palazzo Moro) - Tel. 93023 (Mayor and Secretary).

Traffic Police: near Town Hall Tel. 93191 - T.O Tel.93277 - Services Tel.93215

Local Police Station (Carabinieri): Via Piave - Tel. 93023.

Forestry Corps: Via N.Ausilio - Tel. 93131.

Chemist: Via Insorti d'Ungheria - Tel. 93000.

Bank: Carical-Banca Carime - Tel. 93324.

Hotels and Restaurants: Pizza House of Azzinnaro, Via Fani,8 Tel.93674; S. Antonio Restaurant and Pizza House of Chiarelli, Via Insorti D'Ungheria, 41 - Tel. 93166 and Chiarelli Pizza House, Piazza S.Croce Tel 93166 Cava Pizza House, Pastry-shop and Icecream Shop, Via Sila 102 Tel.937008

Farms holidays:: CA.VE.SA. - Association beetween Towns of Campana, Verzino, Savelli in locality Pian di Guerra.

Fairs: Ronza ,market and cattle fair held on June, 6 and 7th; the last one (1998) was the 532st..
Rosario , market and cattle fair held on October, 7th.

Religious feasts: S. Domenico and Madonna di Costantinopoli, on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of August; S. Antonio Day, on June, 12th and 13th; the Madonna delle Grazie, celebrated with a processions on the 7th and 8th of September; Good Freeday with Mysteries Procession

Cultural Associations: Proloco, via N.Ausilio - Tel.93373; Band "D.Costantino" Tel.93466; Folk and Musical Band "Gegè e i Boys 84" Tel.93298

Public Library: near Junior School via De Gasperi - Tel.93041

Pretura: Piazza Parlamento Tel.93042 - Justice of the peace Tel.937092

Social center: Villa of reception for elderlies "Carmine D.co Rizzo", piazza Italia - Tel.937172

Hospital: under construction like R.S.A. (residenza sanitaria assistenziale) by ASL n.3. General surgery Via Insorti d'Ungheria tel.968218

Duty doctor (holiday and nocturnal) near Hospital, Tel. 968218.

Schools: Primary school; Junior school; I.P.S.I.A. (Professional State School for Industry and Handicraft) - Private Parish Infant School.

Famous people: Monsignor Francesco Marino (Bishop of Isola and poet); Nicola Ausilio (patriot); Nicola Lautieri (patriot); Ferdinando Sambiase, Prince of Campana.

Places of interest: Old town centre (Rione Terra and Rione Castello). Monuments: The Norman Tower or City Tower; Mother Church with Belfry; Church of the Madonna delle Grazie (16th century); Church of S. Domenico (worth a visit for its stone portal); Church of the Confraternity (16th century, enlarged in 1951); Convent Complex of S. Antonio (16th and 17th centuries, with 17th century wooden altar and a very badly preserved 14th century wooden crucifix ); Porta Urbica (Town Gate) of the Trinity.

Water Springs: Briglietta, Promenzano and Canale on the way to Verzino and S. Salvatore.

Typical food produce: Filicata - fresh cottage cheese preserved in asphodel rushes; Giuncata , both fresh and dried; Butirri; Sopressata, Salsiccia- preserved in olive oil, with fennel seeds and chilly pepper and, sometimes, wine. Caciocavallo, Provola, Ricotta (cottage cheese), goats milk cheese both fresh and mature, preserved pore mushrooms, chestnuts in cooked wine, fresh figs in bitter-sweet.

Typical handicraft items: baskets made of rastucciu, that is straw, decorated with carmine, cobalt blue and emerald green straw drawings; once only natural colours were used, now they use ready-made ones.

The drawings represent flowers, horses, volutes. Small wooden objects reproducing some tools for the wool manufacture; distaffs, hank winders and also objects for the fireplace such as fire fans. As for hand-weaving, some ancient looms have survived which were once used in the home industry.

Historical notes

Campana boasts very ancient origins. Historiography identifies it with ancient Kalasarna or Kaliserna , mentioned by Strabone (VI, 254.1,3). The place-name, of Greek origin, seems to have been borrowed from sheep-breeding which was a common local activity (AKalòs-arnòs, meaning beautiful lamb; country of the beautiful lambs) or from its rough and naturally well sheltered strategical position (AKalòs-àrna, meaning beautiful stronghold; or also AChalà-àrna, meaning jutting out fortress).

Many archaeological findings, dating back to different ages have been brought to light, from the few objects dating from the Bronze Age and coming from ancient Ronza, to the vases and pots with traces of pictorial scenes or with a black background found in the areas of Caprella, Cozzo del Leone, Cozzo del Morto..

A large slab tomb, recently brought to light in the area of S.Marina, dates from the Brutium period, whereas the one which has been found in the area of Pignatara and whose contents are on exhibition at the museum of Crotone, dates from Roman times.

A rich collection of as many as 78 Greek and Roman coins, 16 of which unidentifiable owing to very bad preservation, has been discovered in the area of Torracca in 1934 and part of it (17 pieces) can be admired in the museum of Reggio Calabria.

Traces of rupestrian civilization with inter-communicating caves excavated in the rock can also be seen in the area of Ornarito.

Surrounded by several farmhouses belonging to farmers and shepherds (Francavilla, S.Pietro, S.Iapico, S.Giovanni la Fontana, S.Lorenzo), which today are simply place-names, probably Kaliserna took the name of Campana in the 9th or 10th century, during the times of Saracen pirate raids, which pushed their way inland through the Fiumenicà (probably ancient river Hylias). The impending danger certainly gave way to an urban migration towards the best sheltered site.

This renewed and more densely-populated Acastrum took the name of ATerra della Campana (meaning Land of the Bell), because, according to tradition, a bell, which had fortuitously been found nearby, was used to rally the peasants in that place, so that they might defend themselves against enemy attack.

The new toponym ATerra Campanae is first mentioned in the Angevin Registers when the place was turned into a fief. The first landowner seems to have been the french Biviano of Clarence, succeeded by Guglielmo Enardi of Bayrano. In 1271-72, when the latter died, the Curia bestowed it on Guglielmo Brunello, warrant officer of the Kingdom of Naples.

After a short period under Muzio Matera, from 1417 onwards, the feudal history of Campana will be linked to the county of Cariati. Polissena Ruffo, her sister Covella, Marino Marzano will succeed one another as landowners.

Royal property again for a short period, it was a feudal possession of Geronimo Riario (1479-82) and Geronimo Sanseverino (1482-85). In 1505, the fief was bestowed on Giovambattista Spinelli Aas a reward for his loyalty and services to the Aragonese family.

The Spinelli family, with an interval in 1534, kept Campana until 1678, when Carlo Spinelli, heavily indebted, was compelled to sell it, along with Bocchigliero, to the baron Alessandro Labonia of Rossano for 43.000 ducats.

In 1694, the fief was purchased by Bartolomeo Sambiase, whose family ruled it as a principality until the abolition of the feudal system in 1806.

During the French decade (1806-15), it became chief town of the district of Rossano and the seat of the local magistrate' s court with the district prison.

It was also the seat of the board of notaries until a short time ago.

After the earthquakes of 1825 and 1836 a process of development began which was to lead the village to its present urban configuration, with the rise of the new densely-populated areas of Convento, Santa Croce, and its recent expansion towards the Sila mountains (the areas of Argutolo and S.Leonardo).

Suggestive and highly valuable from a historical and artistic point of view is the Medieval Borough, in the lower town (the area of Terra), to which access is still only possible through the door of the Bridge, well protected by the clock-tower, the only one to have survived of the five ancient city watch-towers.

Here is the Chiesa Matrice (the Mother Church), consecrated to the Assunta (Our Lady of the Assumption), whose architecture, however composite and no longer original owing to repeated reconstructions, still shows traces of Gothic and Norman style. On one of the arches of the square belfry with the octagonal upper drum, the bell, now no longer used, which consecrated the unity of Italy, is shown to advantage.

Traces of medieval Campana are still to be found in the remains of the ancient Trinity Gate, over the steep paved road, not far from the Fiumenicà, realized by the Mayor Pietro Grano (1856-60). The Church of S.Maria of Constantinople dating back to the early 17th century, is by the homonymous Confraternity, which is responsible for the Mystery Procession on Good Friday.

Further up, rises the 18th century church of S.Domenico, once owned by the Dominican Friars, who moved in, between the 17th and 18th century, from their first Aextra moenia monastery of S.Maria delle Grazie, founded in 1659.

Dissolved in 1811, the old monastery became the Town Hall as well as the seat of the Justice of the Peace and the district prison. After a period of absolute neglect, today, duly renovated, the old monastery has been turned into the seat of the local Magistrate's Court, whereas its east wing, already totally rebuilt by D.Roberto Migliacci thanks to a municipal donation, has been housing an infant school run by the nuns Piccole Operaie, since 1931. The front of the church, which has been a parish church since the early 20th century, has been recently enriched by the mosaic of S.Domenico. Worth noting the stone portal with its characteristic ornamental patterns.

The old monastery of S.Antonio of the Riformati, dating back to 1661, was also dissolved in 1811 and then turned into a hospital in 1947. The church, on the contrary, has been restored and is still functioning as a place of worship.

Two Basilian monasteries dating back to the Norman age, whose remains only are still visible, complete the sacred history of Campana: S.Angelo Militino, founded by S.Cirillo in 1081, and S.Marina, whose history has been supplied with documentary evidence since 1167 at the latest, the year in which the monk Filottete was the abbot.

Worth mentioning the two densely-populated areas of Casalicchio and Castello , which rose outside the town walls after the 16th and 17th centuries, when the neighbourhood Terra began to overpopulate, having increased from about 1000 inhabitants in 1532 to about 1650 in 1595.

The population, with a dramatic pause over the last three decades owing to emigration, has steadily grown throughout the past few centuries going from 1344 inhabitants in 1815 to 2389 in 1825 and has settled today around 2600 inhabitants.

SEA-SIDE HILL-SIDE ITINERARY

DISTANCE AND TIME REQUIRED INCLUDING STOPS: 8 hours - 120 km.

Starting from Rossano Scalo for Paludi, Cropalati, Caloveto, Campana, Scala Coeli.

Returning through Terravecchia, Cariati, Rossano Scalo.

If you want to take a pleasant healthy trip then this is the route for you, with the possibility of exchanging the beautiful sea-side scenery for that of the splendid low and higher hill-sides.

This route enables us to appreciate the natural and human habitat, with its customs and traditions.

The typical cuisine is another interesting element to discover.

Setting off from Rossano Scalo along the S.S. 117 for Paludi, then on to Cropalati and Caloveto; after 16 km, we reach Campana, a town rich in traditions. Follow the S.S. 108 down to Scala Coeli and then on to Terravecchia.

After having visited these towns it’s possible to continue on for Cariati; then back along the coastal road to Rossano Scalo.

MOUNTAIN ITINERARY

DISTANCE AND TIME REQUIRED INCLUDING STOPS : 8 hours – 208 km.

WITH AN OVERNIGHT STAY AND VISIT TO THE PARK - 2 days.

Starting from Rossano Scalo for Paludi, Cropalati, Longobucco, with the possibility of an overnight stay in one of the hotels in the Sila National Park. Bocchigliero, Campana, Mandatoriccio, Rossano Scalo.

This is no doubt is the longest excursion, and therefore requires a longer period of time, at least two days, to appreciate the magnificent mountain scenery. The excursion can be split up by an overnight stay in one of the hotels in the area.

Starting off from Rossano and following the S.S. 117 passing through Paludi, Cropalati and Longobucco, brings us into contact with the typical pre-silan scenery.

After leaving the town of Longobucco, penetrating into the heart of the Sila Grande and paying a well worth visit to the lakes and nearby parks, it’s possible to make use of the areas organized for camping, games and guided excursions, and to follow old pathways through the lovely woodlands of particular interest and value.

At the right times of the year it’s possible to gather mushrooms, or taste typical home made dishes and dairy produce.

The return journey will take up the better part of the second day: following the S.S. 282 for Bocchigliero and Campana, then down to Mandatoriccio taking the S.S.383, then, after visiting the town, continue on until joining the S.S. 106, and then back along the coastal road to Rossano Scalo.

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