Francavilla in Sinni Information

Francavilla in Sinni emerged in the "Certosa di San Nicola" territory which belonged to Prince of Chiaromonte in the fifteenth century.

In 1420, Princess Giovanna, his wife, prayed to San Nicola for his sick child, making the promise to donate the territory she saw from the castle of Chiaromonte to the monastery of Certosa.

As the child received the grace to be cured, Princess kept to her promise, allowing the construction of houses for the people from neighboring villages who came to work the land and forests form Certosa.

The village is called "Francavilla" because the settlers were freed from paying taxes, “Franca” means tax-free.

Francavilla in Sinni had been ruled by the "Certosini" until the abolition of the feudal regime. The Certosa was destroyed by the French navy between the years 1808 and 1812.It occurred during the Campaign of Italy,under the orders of Gioacchino Murat, brother-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte.

It became a part of the Lagonegro district and Chiaromonte jurisdiction, after the Unit.

Its population census in 1862 was 3,045 people, most of them engaged in agriculture (think, olive trees, vineyards, flax, hemp) cattle farmer and sheep cheese production.

It always belonged to the Diocese of Anglona and Tursi.

The landscape of Francavilla is interesting as it has medium-high mountain, hills and plains. In the hill are forests of oaks, cedars, firs, beech, chestnut; higher in the mountain there are beech and spruce foliage. In Mount Caramola a rich fauna is found: wolves, foxes, hares, wild boar, deer, fawns, badgers, squirrels, kestrels, wild pigeons, golden eagles, etc.. you may also find in this area wolves, wild boar and badgers. The mountain presents surgentes of fresh and pure water, mainly during the summer months, and can be collected mushrooms of excelent quality, nuts and strawberries.

Part of Francavilla territory is included in the National park Pollino, it is possible to make guided excursions either on foot or riding:

1. The Acquafredda Refuge (km. 8 provincial route 63, and shifting to the right traveling 17 kilometers, Communal route).
2. The Catusa surgente (5 kms. Passing the Montana colony).
3. The Casa del Conte area.
4. The Pietra Sasso area with it panoramica vew.
5. The geology zone of "Timpa delle Murge," constituted of magnetic rocks that were formed on the seabed and that emerged after tectonic movements.
6. The Orientata del Bosco "Rubbio" nature reserve, located at 1,250 meters above sea level, on the Lucane Pollino hillside.

In the Forest dell'Avena, at just 3 kms, near the Sinni river, flows sulphurous water called "acqua fetente."

Other panoramic points are: Palladoro, Sinni view of the valley from Piazza Gonfalone, Mount Catarozzolo heights, Timpa Altosana heights.

In Piano Lacco town you can see the archaeological site of medieval age whith remains of settlements and fortified structures.

On the hill called Mount Catarozzo, there are the ruins of a mediaval factory called "Castello di Rubbia."

The three lakes are:

1. Vicecontr lake (Avena village)
2. The Pesce lake (Lacco Piano village)
3. D'Erba lake (Caramola village)

The architectural and artistic heritage consists of:

• The Mother Church, where the patron saints are St. Felice and St. Policarpo; in this church can be seen a cloth that represents the eighteenth century "Presentazione al Tempio" and one with the Madonna in the throne and Saints, a high altar and other secondary wooden made painted as an imitation marmol Taracido from the eighteenth century.
• The San Antonio chapel, XIX century.
• The San Giuseppe chapel, nineteenth century with a cloth that represents the Madonna dell'Assunta.
• The Madonna of Pompeii Sanctuary, of the nineteenth century, in San "Biase" village.
• The "Assunta" chapel of the nineteenth century.
• The"Castello Viceconte," with farm and private rooms, built in 1886
• The Certosa di San Nicola, dedicated to the saint di Bari. Built in contrada S. Elania (known as Fra Tommaso) by Venceslao, Count of Chiaromonte, in 1395. "La Certosa" had been majestic and magnificent, so it seems by the greatness of its walls, now demolished, it was the third most important Certosa in the Napolitan kingdom, first was to Padula, and the second was to Serra San Bruno in Calabria.
  Contained numerous treasures donated by Prince St. Severin. The "Certosini" people (from the Certosa) had all the agro-Francavilla given as a donation by Princess Sanseverino, for a grace given, she had made a promise to San Nicola if her son was cure from a serious illness.
  The "Certosini" built the Francavilla village in 1420, with the concent of Queen Giovanna II, for his servants who worked the land and the settlers. The name comes from the fact that their "villa" (town, village) was tax-free. The farmers relieved from taxes, fees and freed from abuses, rushed to populate the center, which in later centuries grows significantly. People only had to pay a little fee to the Certosa. In times of hunger, the Certosini distributed bread for free to the people, from there the tradition of distribution of bread each year, from October 6, St. Bruno feast, to March 9, San Nicola feast. In those days women were not admitted in Chiesa, the church was not big but splendid and luxurious. There were two big silver busts, one of San Nicola, and the other from San Bruno, founder of the order. The convent was opulent, but the "Certosini" hi spent often forced them to borrow, and when it was abolished, the Chiesa of Francavilla had a loan of 4,000 ducats, and had to settle for taking lux ury tissue and decorations for the Sacral altar.
  The destruction of the Certosa took place between 1808 and 1812.

The agriculture activity was developed particularly for olive cultivation and oil production.

Even today craft work is made such as wrought iron, pottery, baskets, and recently resumed activity, hand embroidery, it was time ago widespread among Francavilla women.

After the Second World War, the traditional crafts of carpentry (mainly for the construction of pipelines and barrels) developed an industrial activity in the field of wood processing, which builds and operates the forests. There are companies that have manufactured industrial production for the construction, window frames or fences, mechanics.

In addition, Francavilla became one of the most important growing point of Basilicata, this was due to the opening of many businesses and industries (clothing, wedding dresses, decorations, automobiles).

• The ciambotta: peppers, eggplant, tomatoes and rib of pig.
• Zafaren ammaianet: morrón red dried chili, fried with mass of flour, eggs.
• Gliommarielli: entails kid and roast lamb.
• Frittet col i sparij: fried with asparagus and pieces of Salsiccia.
• Brascoli d'Scorza: ribs pig cooked in sauce.
• Lagana and Fasula: tagliatelle with beans.

• 12 and June 13: Feast in honor of San Antonio.
• 21 and July 22: Festival in honor of the Madonna del Carmine.
• 9 and August 10: Feast employer in honor of San Felice and San Policarpo.
• I and II di domenica August: Feast in Honor della Madonna of Pompeii.
• August 15: Feast in honor of the Madonna of the Assunta.
• December 8: Feast in honor of the Madonna of "Pertusavutta".