Teora
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| Comune di Teora | |
|---|---|
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| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Campania |
| Province | Avellino (AV) |
| Elevation | 660 m (2,165 ft) |
| Area | 23 km² (9 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| - Total | 1,571 |
| - Density | 68/km² (176/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 |
| Coordinates | |
| Gentilic | Teoresi |
| Dialing code | 0827 |
| Postal code | 83056 |
| Patron | Saint Nicolas |
| - Day | 6 December |
| Website: http://www.comune.teora.av.it/ | |
Teora is a small town in the province of Avellino, in the Campania region of southern Italy.
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[edit] Geography
Teora is bordered by the towns of Caposele, Conza della Campania, Lioni and Morra De Sanctis.
[edit] History
The village of Teora originated as an agricultural and military centre. It is named after the Teora family who founded it when they arrived in Italy (Magna Grecia) from Greece (XIV B.C.).
The origin of the village is recorded by the Greek historian Dionisio of Alicarnasso (I century B.C.) and by the Italian historian Marco Terenzio Varrone. Reportedly, in the Roman era the tribuno della plebe Milone died there during the civil war between Caesar and Pompey. In a Privilegio of 1200, granted by Pope Innocenzo III to Pantaleone, archbishop of Conza, Teora is cited for the first time with the name of Tugurium Biarium. In 1322, a man named Filippo was lord of Teora; later on, in 1376, its domain was acquired by the Earl Giacomo Arcuccio, and subsequently it passed to the Gesualdo Family. From 1676 to 1806, Teora belonged to the Mirelli Princes.
Three earthquakes have marked the history of the Teora: 1694, 1732, 1980; the last one of which has destroyed much of its historical and cultural identity. Twenty-five years after the latest earthquake, Teora was awarded the Gold medal to the civil merit.
[edit] Culture
Following a centuries-old tradition, in the evening preceding a wedding, the groom sings a serenade to his bride. Accompanied by local singers, he usually stands under the balcony of her bedroom, awaiting a positive answer to his love. After a few minutes, the bride is expected to switch on the light and go out on the balcony, in sign of her “yes”. Usually the evening continues with music and songs in the bride's house. Every year, in the first half of August, the Festival of Serenades takes place: five Teorese girls stand on five geranium decorated balconies, each waiting for her loved one. While some professional menestrelli play their love songs, “Romeo” climbs a rope ladder to reach his “Juliet” and bring her a red rose. A timid and chaste kiss is the prize for the serenata. Rumour has it that "Romeos" take advantage of the event to formulate real wedding proposals to their Juliet.
[edit] Monuments
[edit] Fountain of Monte
The fountain, also called fountain of the dead men, has origins that go back to XII the century when the Church of Conza was designated by Pope Callisto II as a necropolis. The fountain was completely reconstructed over the centuries, today it is a simple structure building.
[edit] Church of Saint Nicholas
The precise date of building of the church is not known since all documents were lost in a fire in 1690. Probably the church has been many reconstructed many times, and the present structure, with its 16th century appearance, was coimpleted in the 20th century. Four times the church has been destroyed from earthquakes (1604, 1694, 1732, 1980). Today of the majestic structure retains only the skeleton of the greater altar and the bases in stone of the ancient columns. The new church, rebuilt after the 1980 earthquake , includes pieces coming from the destroyed Church and the Congregation di Morti, also destroyed by the earthquake of 1980.
[edit] Corona flour mill
Situated at the edge of the historical centre of the area is the water flour mill. A precise dating of the building is not known. The activity of the flour mill ended about 50 years ago and the earthquake of November 1980 has destroyed the central part of the construction.
[edit] Fountain (public washhouse) of Piano
Situated to the west of the area, the rectangular fountain subdivided in three zones with pillars. The water comes from five masks in stone and goes into three bathtubs leaning to the wall. In the rear zone of the construction, there are situated public washhouses.
[edit] Stone of the civil weddings
The Congrega public square is so called because there was the Congrega little church. At one time there was a tree in the small piaza on was a stone table on which were written public documents as part of the civil ritual of the wedding. It is unknown in which time the civil ritual of the wedding came to be celebrated in public and on this public square. The table is constituted from two stone pillars with on a thick slab 20 cm.
[edit] Festivals and events
The patron is Saint Nicholas (remembered on August 13 and on December 6).
[edit] Squaqqualacchiun'
Typical masque connected to the day of Saint Anthony (January 17), the first day of carnival. It is also represented at the Museum of Popular Traditions of Caserta.
[edit] Pizza of Saint Martin
Potato pie generally eaten on November 11, (day of Saint Martin). According to the tradition, a little coin is hidden in the pie: the one who finds it in his or her portion, has the right to decide the menu of the party that takes place on November 21 (calle Cummit).
[edit] Notes and references
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