Craco

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Craco
Comune
Comune di Craco
The old town of Craco
Craco
Location of Craco in Italy
Coordinates: 40°22′43.16″N 16°26′25.25″E / 40.3786556°N 16.4403472°E / 40.3786556; 16.4403472Coordinates: 40°22′43.16″N 16°26′25.25″E / 40.3786556°N 16.4403472°E / 40.3786556; 16.4403472
Country Italy
Region Basilicata
Province Matera (MT)
Frazioni Craco Peschiera
Area
 • Total 76 km2 (29 sq mi)
Elevation 391 m (1,283 ft)
Population (December 2008)[1]
 • Total 773
 • Density 10/km2 (26/sq mi)
Demonym Crachesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 75010
Dialing code 0835
Patron saint San Nicola
Website Official website

Craco is a town and comune in the Province of Matera, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata.

The old town was abandoned in 1963 due to recurring landslides. The abandonment has made Craco a tourist attraction and a popular filming location. In 2010, Craco has been included in the watch list of the World Monuments Fund.

Geography

Craco is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) inland from the Gulf of Taranto at the instep of the “boot” of Italy. It is typical of the hill towns of the region with mildly undulating shapes and the lands surrounding it sown with wheat. The town was built on a very steep summit for defensive reasons, giving it a stark and striking appearance and distinguishing it from the surrounding land which is characterized by soft shapes.

The centre, built on the highest side of the town, faces a ridge which runs steeply to the southwest where newer buildings exist. The town sits atop a 400 metres (1,300 ft)-high cliff that overlooks the Cavone River valley. Throughout the area are many vegetation-less mounds called calanchi formed by intensive erosion.

History

Around 540, the area was called “Montedoro” and inhabited by Greeks who moved inland from the coastal town of Metaponto. Tombs have been found dating from the 8th century suggesting the original settlement dates back to then. The town’s name can be dated to 1060 when the land was the possession of Archbishop Arnaldo, Bishop of Tricarico, who called the area “GRACHIUM” which means "from the little plowed field." This long association of the Church with the town had a great influence on the inhabitants.

From 1154-1168, the control of the village passed to Eberto who established the first feudal control over the town. Then in 1179, Roberto di Pietrapertos became the landlord of Craco. In 1276, a university was established in town. During this period in the 13th century, the landmark castle was built under the direction of Attendolo Sforza. In 1293, under Federico II, the Castle Tower became a prison. By the 15th century, four large plazas had developed in the town: Palazzo Maronna near the tower, Palazzo Grossi near the big church, Palazzo Carbone on the Rigirones property, and Palazzo Simonetti.

The population increased from 450 (1277), to 655 (1477), to 1,718 (1532) until reaching 2,590 in 1561; and averaged 1,500 in succeeding centuries. During 1656, a plague struck with hundreds dying and reducing the number of families in the town.

By 1799, the townspeople overthrew the feudal system and Innocenzo De Cesare returned to Naples, where he had studied, and promoted an independent Municipality. Subsequently, the town fell under the control of the Italian King and thereafter ruled by a period of French occupation. By 1815, the town was large enough to divide it into two districts: Torrevecchia – the highest area adjacent to the castle and tower, and Quarter della Chiesa Madre – the area adjacent to San Nicola’s Church

After the unification of Italy, Craco was conquered by Carmine Crocco and there was a growth of “brigands” in the area who plagued the town until the mid-1860s. With the end of the civil strife the greatest difficulty the town faced became environmental and geological.

From 1892 to 1922, over 1,300 Crachesi migrated to North America mainly due to poor agricultural conditions.

Abandonment

During the mid-twentieth century, recurring geological instabilities began to take a toll on the viability of the town. Between 1959 and 1972, portions of the village were severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable by a series of landslides. The geological threat to the town was known to scientists since 1910, due to Craco's location on a hill of Pliocene sands overhanging the clays, with ravines causing progressive incisions. For safety, the entire population of 1,800 residents moved to Craco Peschiera in 1963, leaving the town uninhabited. That population is now down to about 970 inhabitants.[citation needed]

Churches are central to the town’s history with its founding stemming from monks. Noteworthy buildings include the church of the Observant Friars Minor dedicated to St. Peter, which dates to the 17th century and has now been partially restored and used as a conference center.

The church of Santa Maria della Stella, a small chapel built on the hillside, is part of an active association paying homage to the Virgin Mary. The site of the chapel is the location where the statue of the Virgin and Child was reported to be miraculously discovered in a body of water by a shepherd. The statue of the Virgin is still housed there, although the original infant was stolen and has been replaced.

There is also a small new church in Sant’ Angelo, the only remaining section of the hilltop that is still inhabited, which houses the religious relics of the mummified body of Vincenzo, Martyr of Craco - the martyred patron saint of the town. It is actively attended with fresh flowers brought into the church daily. San Vincenzo was a soldier in the Legion of Tebea, the army of General Massimiliano in 286 AD who was martyred after refusing to renounce Christianity and worship the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. His body was brought to the town in 1769 and moved to the new little church after the old town collapsed. A story is told of another town, Pisticci, claiming the relic should be in their town and a group from there tried to take the relic. It became too heavy for them to carry very far and was abandoned on the road where the people of Craco found it and returned it to the town.[citation needed]

There is one other church in the town old town: Chiesa Madre (di San Nicola Vescovo - St. Nicholas Bishop). Its arched dome stands above the skyline just below the Tower and was the largest church in the village.

With the collapse of the old town, the statuary and interior fixtures were moved to the new church building which in now at the center of the new town, Craco Peschiera. Although modern in appearance on the outside, the old statues inside from the original church provide a transition to visitors that give them the atmosphere of old Craco.

Ruins of Craco

This strong religious connection in the town generates many regularly scheduled festivals:

  • Madonna della Stella Festival – first Sunday of May in Craco Vecchia
  • San Nicola Festival – second Sunday in August
  • Madonna della Stella Festival – second Sunday of August in Craco Peschiera
  • Madonna di Monserrato Festival – third Sunday of September
  • St. Vincenzo Martire Fair – fourth Sunday of October
  • St. Vincenzo Fair – fourth Saturday of October in Craco Vecchia

The agricultural traditions of the town also continue with a local market held in Craco Peschiera each month.

Culture

Because of its unique and particular landscape Craco has been the setting of many movies. In The Passion of The Christ (2004) by Mel Gibson, Craco is the town that can be seen in the scene of the hanging of Judas.

Other films shot in the ghost town include:

See also

References

  1. ↑ All demographics and other statistics from the Italian statistical institute (Istat)

External links

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