Monticchio
Encyclopedia
Monticchio is an Italian
hamlet (frazione
) belonging to the municipalities of Rionero in Vulture
and Atella, in the Province of Potenza
, Basilicata
. The village is divided into 3 zones: Monticchio Laghi (part of Atella), Monticchio Bagni and Monticchio Sgarroni (both in Rionero).
, that occupied the ancient castle near Sgarroni (Castrum Monticuli), it became, in the second half of 19th century, a strategic point for brigands
after Italian unification
. It was the shelter for some brigands as Carmine Crocco
and his subordinates Ninco Nanco (Giuseppe Summa), Giuseppe Caruso, Teodoro Gioseffi and Giovanni Fortunato. Nowadays it is a touristic place receptive for its natural environment and for mineral waters, due to the presence of some extinct volcanoes.
, Campania
. The 3 tiny villages composing it are located in west of Mount Vulture
and few km away from each other. A regional road links Monticchio Bagni and Monticchio Laghi.
Monticchio is 13 km far from Melfi
, 16 km from Rionero in Vulture
, 22 from Atella, 68 from Potenza
, 71 from Foggia
and 123 from Avellino
.
s, owned by the Italian companies Gaudianello (based in Melfi) and Fonti del Vulture (based in Rionero). This second company has a local factory that produces the waters Toka, Solaria and Felicia.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
hamlet (frazione
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
) belonging to the municipalities of Rionero in Vulture
Rionero in Vulture
Rionero in Vulture is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is located on the slopes of Monte Vulture in the northern part of the region of Basilicata.-History:...
and Atella, in the Province of Potenza
Province of Potenza
The Province of Potenza is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Potenza.-Geography:It has an area of 6,545 km² and a total population of 387,107 . There are 100 comuni in the province .-History:In 272 B.C. the province was conquered by the Greek army...
, 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...
. The village is divided into 3 zones: Monticchio Laghi (part of Atella), Monticchio Bagni and Monticchio Sgarroni (both in Rionero).
History
First inhabited by the NormansNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
, that occupied the ancient castle near Sgarroni (Castrum Monticuli), it became, in the second half of 19th century, a strategic point for brigands
Brigandage in the Two Sicilies
Brigandage in the Two Sicilies had existed in some form since ancient times, however its origins as outlaws targeting random travellers would evolve vastly later on in the form of the political resistance movement form of brigandage in the Two Sicilies...
after Italian unification
Italian unification
Italian unification was the political and social movement that agglomerated different states of the Italian peninsula into the single state of Italy in the 19th century...
. It was the shelter for some brigands as Carmine Crocco
Carmine Crocco
Carmine Crocco, known as Donatello was an Italian brigand. Initially a robber in revenge for the abuses suffered, he fought in the service of Giuseppe Garibaldi and, soon after the Italian unification, he formed an army of two thousand men, leading the most cohesive and feared band in southern...
and his subordinates Ninco Nanco (Giuseppe Summa), Giuseppe Caruso, Teodoro Gioseffi and Giovanni Fortunato. Nowadays it is a touristic place receptive for its natural environment and for mineral waters, due to the presence of some extinct volcanoes.
Geography
Monticchio is part of the Vulture region and lies near the borders with the Province of AvellinoProvince of Avellino
The Province of Avellino is a province in the Campania region of Italy. The area is typified by many small towns and villages scattered across the province; in fact only two towns have a population over 20,000; its capital city Avellino and Ariano Irpino....
, Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
. The 3 tiny villages composing it are located in west of Mount Vulture
Monte Vulture
Mount Vulture is an extinct volcano located 56 km north of the city Potenza in the Basilicata region . As a prominent landmark it gave its name to the Vulture region, the most significant viticultural zone in Basilicata growing the DOC wine Aglianico del Vulture.With a height of 1326 m, it is...
and few km away from each other. A regional road links Monticchio Bagni and Monticchio Laghi.
- Monticchio Bagni (M. Baths, 40°56′57.23"N 15°34′7.08"E) is the northernmost locality, situated few km from the borders with Campania and from the closed railway station on the Avellino-Lioni-Rocchetta line. With a population of circa 250, it is the most populated locality.
- Monticchio Laghi (M. Lakes, 40°56′6.83"N 15°36′31.08"E) lies on the slopes of Mount Vulture and counts circa 150 inhabitants. In front of it there are situated two little volcanic lakes and the locality is receptive for tourism. From 1971 the littler of the two lakes, habitat of the European Owl MothAcanthobrahmaea europaeaThe European Owl Moth is a lepidopteran from the family Brahmaeidae, the Brahmin moths.-Overview:The wingspan of the moth ranges from 65 to 80 millimeter....
, constitutes a natural reserve, named Riserva regionale Lago piccolo di Monticchio. Around the village are situated two abbeys: St. Michael and the ruins of St. Hippolytus. - Monticchio Sgarroni (40°55′6.75"N 15°34′16.8"E), with a population of circa 50, is the lesser populated one. Also known as Sgarroni, close to it are located the ruins of a castle.
Monticchio is 13 km far from Melfi
Melfi
Melfi is a town and comune in the Vulture area of the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata.-Geography:On a hill at the foot of Mount Vulture, Melfi is the most important town in Basilicata's Vulture, both as a tourist resort and economic centre.-Early history:Inhabited...
, 16 km from Rionero in Vulture
Rionero in Vulture
Rionero in Vulture is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is located on the slopes of Monte Vulture in the northern part of the region of Basilicata.-History:...
, 22 from Atella, 68 from Potenza
Potenza
-Transportation:Potenza is a rail junction on the main line from Salerno to Taranto, managed by FS Trenitalia; it has also a connection to Altamura, served by the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane regional company...
, 71 from Foggia
Foggia
Foggia is a city and comune of Apulia, Italy, capital of the province of Foggia. Foggia is the main city of a plain called Tavoliere, also known as the "granary of Italy".-History:...
and 123 from Avellino
Avellino
Avellino is a town and comune, capital of the province of Avellino in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is situated in a plain surrounded by mountains 42 km north-east of Naples and is an important hub on the road from Salerno to Benevento.-History:Before the Roman conquest, the...
.
| Distances between the 3 zones | M. Bagni | M. Laghi | M. Sgarroni |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monticchio Bagni | |||
| Monticchio Laghi | |||
| Monticchio Sgarroni |
Economy
The economy of Monticchio is mainly based on tourism and agriculture. Local industry is based on the export of the mineral waterMineral water
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
s, owned by the Italian companies Gaudianello (based in Melfi) and Fonti del Vulture (based in Rionero). This second company has a local factory that produces the waters Toka, Solaria and Felicia.