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Calabria
Reggio Calabria
38°21′N 16°16′E circa 300 m s.l.m. 43 km² 3381 91.1 people/ km² Fabrizia (VV), Galatro , Gioiosa Ionica , Mammola , Marina di Gioiosa Ionica , Martone , San Giovanni di Gerace , Siderno Fabrizia (VV), 89043 0964 Grotteresi SS Crocifisso 2nd Sunday in September Calabria, is a region in southern Italy which occupies the "toe" of the Italian peninsula. It is bounded in the north by the region of Basilicata, region of Sicily in SW, to the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea, and to the east by the Ionian Sea. The region covers 15,080 km² and has a population of 2 million. Capital is Catanzaro.
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Grotteria is a municipality in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about 70 km southwest of Catanzaro and about 60 km northeast of Reggio Calabria.
Grotteria is a town of 3381 inhabitants in the province of Reggio Calabria. Grotteria is a small agricultural center in the valley of turbidity in Locride, on the Ionian Sea side. Its territory, which occupies an area of 43.32 sq km, extending from the Ionian Sea (Sea Grotteria) at Serre (Croceferrata, 1100 m asl). Grotteria borders the following municipalities: the joint towns of Galatro and Fabrizia to the north, Mammola to the West, San Juan Gerace, Martone and Gioiosa Jonica to the East and Marina di Gioiosa Jonica and Siderno to the South.
Curious thing about the community is that it resembles the country of Italy...have a look at the map in a mirror.
History: Founded in the vicinity of the river Torbido, Grotteria boasts the first urban settlement in the area, dating from the Iron Age. A Pre-Hellenistic necropolis (IX-VIII century BC, S. Stefano) has been found not too far from the centre and a Magno-Greek building (V century BC) in Croceferrata on Mount Palazzi.
The story goes that the two civilizations were fused, and the two prevailed, that of Locresi around the seventh to tenth centuary AC followed by the Romans and, gradually, other civilizations, gave Grotteria its names and traditions.
In the Byzantine period, in fact, Grotteria got much of the influence from Constantinople, the customs, traditions, religion and names conformed to the traditions of the dominant culture. In the tenth century AD, when the Saracens infested the Calabrian coasts, it forced people to move to inland areas, even Grotteresi left the first settlement and moved on top of a hill in an attempt to defend itself from attack by sea.
With the Normans, Grotteria became an independent dominion, acquiring considerable importance, though, due to violent earthquakes, which struck the country caused much damage and casualties, the moments of glory and prosperity alternated with dark periods.
The centre came about during the Byzantine era and derives its name from the Greek word Kripteria (hiding place), or Akropteria (situated on higher ground).The village assumed the name of Agrettaria or Gruttaria during the Middle Ages and reached its maximum development during the XVI century. From this moment, the story of Grotteria records a succession of feudal lords.
Numerous seismic events and floods have damaged Grotteria over the centuries. An earthquake almost destroyed it during 1783, but its inhabitants insisted on reconstructing in the same place.
Population: The municipality of Grotteria had a popolation of 4.096 inhabitants accordingly to the results of the national census made in 1991. After the national census made in 2004 the population was 3476 inhabitants, thus showing during the years 1991 - 2004 a percentual variation of -11.84% inhabitants.
The inhabitants are distributed in 1.371 families with an average of 2.63 people per family.
The place: Grotteria is dominated by the remains of its Castle of ancient foundation from where one can enjoy a beautiful panorama leading up to the Jonic coasts. The San Nicola of Bari Church is positioned nearby. The historical centre maintains its evocative Medieval aspect, where among the alleyways and arches, one can admire nobiliary portals and fountains.
The Matrix Assunta Church, an ancient foundation, was reconstructed in 1930 after an umpteenth earthquake. The Crocifisso Church (XVI century), with a single nave, was reconstructed after earthquakes, as was the San Domenico Church. The Sant'Antonio Church (1640) preserves a statue dating back to 1752 of S. Vincenzo Ferreri (Saint Vincent Ferrer).
Places of interest: Chiesa dell'Assunta (già esistente nel XI sec.), Resti del Castello medievale, Chiesa del SS. Crocefisso (XVI sec.), Chiesa di San Domenico (XIV sec.), Chiesa di S. Antonio da Padova (1640), Chiesa di S. Nicola (1400), Cappella della Concezione, Palazzo de Luna d'Aragona (XVI sec.), Portali nobiliari, Mulini, Portanova di Agropteria, Necropoli preellenica, S. Stefano (IX-VIII sec. a.C.), Edifico magnogreco, Monte Palazzi (V sec. a.C.), Piani della Menta
Museums: Nessun Museo segnalato
Events: Carnevale, Festa del SS. Crocifisso la 2° domenica di settembre, Festa del SS.Crocifisso del Miracolo in novembre, Presepe vivente
The Second Sunday of September the festivity of the Crocifisso is celebrated, the patron saint of the town.
Ten most common names in Grotteria: Panetta, Bruzzese, Galluzzo, Oppedisano, Agostino, Belcastro, Barbiero, Marando, Mazzaferro, Femia.
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Church of SS Crocifisso
The church is part of the "S. Parish Maria Assunta". From the news in our possession, the Church of the Crocifisso (or the Salvatore), was erected in the course of the XVI century , from Cappuccini friars who resided to little distance away (approximately 100 mt.).
The Convent of the Franciscans, was situated to the doors of the county, and accommodated a community of approximately 20 monks, was a Cappuccino Father who in the 1707 realised a statue in cartapesta of the SS. Crocefisso that today is guarded in the church. The statue had recently been restored (18 jobs finished by August 2002 by the ministry of the Institute for Art and Restoration, Palazzo Spinelli, Florence).
A story about the statue of the SS. Crocefisso, tells that in February 1745 in Grotteria, there was a violent storm that caused many victims and huge damages to all the territory. The grotteresi terrorised from what could still happen, decided to entrust themselves to the SS. Crocefisso carrying it in procession through the county; miraculously the fury of the storm ceased.
As a gesture of thanks, the faithfuls chose the SS. Crocefisso to be the new Patron Saint of Grotteria, in substitution of Saint Gaudioso, the patron saint since the year 1000.
Translation and photos from http://www.grotteriaonline.com/ and http://www.comune.grotteria.rc.it
© 2008 Nick Bruzzese & SS Crocifisso: | Contact |
