Garaguso
Encyclopedia
Garaguso is a town and comune
in the province of Matera
, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata
. Garaguso has a population of 1,193 inhabitants (2009) and a surface of 38,6 square kilometers.
, to the east by Salandra
, to the south by San Mauro Forte
, and west with Oliveto Lucano
and Calciano
.
to the fifth century BC. The museum contains marble dating from the first half of the fifth century BC: a model of the Heroon temple and a statue of a goddess sitting. In the feudal period, Garaguso belonged to Salandra until 1813. The 1664 earthquake destroyed the original settlement further down the hill and was rebuilt. A hunting lodge was built and is now called the Palace. The building is accessed by a path carved into the rock It has a central courtyard where there was also the family chapel that later enlarged to became the main church, dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra (Bari). This parish church of Garguso dates to the eighteenth-century and has a clay sculpture of the fifteenth century depicting the Madonna della Puglia and a canvas painted in 1761 by Deodato da Tolve.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the province of Matera
Province of Matera
The Province of Matera is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Matera.It has an area of 3,447 km², and a total population of 203,837 . There are 31 comunes in the province . The main comunes by population are:- External links :* **...
, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata
Basilicata
Basilicata , also known as Lucania, is a region in the south of Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Apulia to the north and east, and Calabria to the south, having one short southwestern coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea between Campania in the northwest and Calabria in the southwest, and a...
. Garaguso has a population of 1,193 inhabitants (2009) and a surface of 38,6 square kilometers.
Geography
It is an agricultural center in the upper valley of the Cavone River. The town is situated on a 460 metre hill and is bordered to the north by the town of GrassanoGrassano
Grassano is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is located between the Bradano and Basento rivers, at an altitude variable from c. 150 to 576 meters above the sea level...
, to the east by Salandra
Salandra
Salandra is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata....
, to the south by San Mauro Forte
San Mauro Forte
San Mauro Forte is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata....
, and west with Oliveto Lucano
Oliveto Lucano
Oliveto Lucano is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata....
and Calciano
Calciano
Calciano is a town and comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata....
.
History
The results of archaeological investigations indicate that the area was inhabited since prehistoric times. The temple of Garaguso, Heroon is of note, revealing a strong Greek presence in the area. In 1060, Garaguso was included in the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Tricarico. Important findings come from the territory are kept in the National Archaeological Museum of Basilicata, documenting an indigenous culture from the Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
to the fifth century BC. The museum contains marble dating from the first half of the fifth century BC: a model of the Heroon temple and a statue of a goddess sitting. In the feudal period, Garaguso belonged to Salandra until 1813. The 1664 earthquake destroyed the original settlement further down the hill and was rebuilt. A hunting lodge was built and is now called the Palace. The building is accessed by a path carved into the rock It has a central courtyard where there was also the family chapel that later enlarged to became the main church, dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra (Bari). This parish church of Garguso dates to the eighteenth-century and has a clay sculpture of the fifteenth century depicting the Madonna della Puglia and a canvas painted in 1761 by Deodato da Tolve.