Scauri

by Mario Rizzi

and traslated by Fabio C.  Filosa

The name of this resort area, in which during the summertime holds almost 70 thousand people, has its origin from Marco Emilio Scauro,  consul and Princeps Senatus in 115 BC, who owned a luxurious maritima villa at the port of Pirae (this was the first name of the area).

Of the ancient city of Ausone origin, which along with Minturnae made up part of the “Pentapoli Aurunca”, one can today admire part of the polygonal city-walls in blocks of limestone (the “Megalithic Walls”), with a pointed arc gate of the V-IV century BC, attached to a cryptoporticus covered with a barrel-vault in cement, about 20 meters long. In the historic centre, inside private properties, there are also the ruins of the home of the consul Scauro, including a double-arched door joined by a cryptoporticus, decorated with wall paintings; seven blind arcs of uncertain make of the II century BC and ruins of a pool. During the recognitions carried out in the past by experts there has been recovery of a mosaic floor, marble columns, amphoras, coins, terracotta tiles, a male statue and a block of limestone with an uncompleted inscription. In the same area there is the “Molini Towers”, built in the XIV century in order to protect the millstones from the Capodacqua stream. Furthermore relevant are the amount of items discovered at the Sant’Albina quarters at the begining of the 1930’s. Pieces of mosaic, corynthian statues and headbands (today in custody at the Antiquarium di Minturnae) lead us to believe that there was the presence of a roman villa (inhabited between the I cen. BC and the III cen. AD), probably linked to the nearby archeological site of via Fusco. Of extreme interest is the “Torre Quadrata” or “Dei Cavallari”, built on Monte D’Oro hill towards the second half of the XVI century, maybe on a pre-existing structure. It was built in order to defend the scauri coastline from the turkish invasions, among which is best known that of the pirate Dragut who on July 21 1552 landed, with his fleet of 200 galeys,  on the beach of Scauri in order to steal and burn down the town of Traetto . The 200 prisoners were able to free themselves, after invoking the Madonna during a storm. This episode is linked to the “festa del mare” with: “Arrivederci a Scauri”, on schedule every year on the second to last weekend of august. The event is divided into the boat procession aux flambeaux in the Monte D’oro bay, as a homage to the fishermen and the followers of the “Madonnina del Mare”, placed upon the rocks to protect the haven. The event also gives tribute to the veteran turists with the “Marco Emilio Scauro” Award, named after the ancient roman consul. All of the mentioned monuments and the archeological area of Pirae belong to the area of the “Regional Suburban Park of Gianola-Monte di Scauri” , founded in 1987 and administered by the league of the city halls of Formia and Minturno.

The religious aspect is evidenced by two events: the first is linked to Sant’Albina who, in 250 AD, under the Emporor Decius, underwent the martyrdom at Scauri; the second is inspired by the passage of Pope  Pious IX, in april 1850, on the Appian road, after his exile in Gaeta. In the “Cappella Ducale” of the Caracciolo-Carafa family (since 1931 the Immaculate Church), since that moment the adoration of Mary had developed and climaxed in the patronal feast of september 8. In 1954, during the centennial of the proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, an artistic statue of the Virgin was made, sculptured by the altoatesine ebonist Giuseppe Obletter and blessed in the Vatican by Pope Pious XII. In 1958 another parish was created, dedicated to the martyr Albina to whom the church was intitled to and mentioned in the Codex Diplomaticus Caietanus  already since 981 and in a document of Pope Adriano IV of 1158. A temple was instead dedicated to the Prince of the Apostles, Saint Peter, situated in Porto Scauritano and quoted in the Codex since 993. Throughout ancient times this centre based its economy on agriculture, fishing and tourism. With the coming of the industrial era, ceramic and brick factories as well as a paper mill were built, as quoted by the german poet Wolfgang Goethe in his work “The Hackert biography” (1811).

Today Scauri, resuming the ancient fasti of the roman era in which it was ordained as the centre of the aristocratic holidays, is a comercial and tourist area. The receptivity is given to the hotels, boarding and thousands of private lodgings, also available  in the low season. The city’s main attraction is the beach, about 4 km long, and the new Promenade, built by the Region and the Province in  1995.

For further information:

Mario RIZZI via Monte Ducale, 20
04026-MINTURNO (LT)
Tel: +39 (0) 771-65348 
 
rizzimario@yahoo.com    

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