Teggiano
Encyclopedia
Teggiano is a town and comune
in Campania
, Italy
, in the province of Salerno
. It is situated on an isolated eminence above the upper part of the valley to which it gives the name of Vallo di Diano
.
Among the historic centers of the Province of Salerno
, Teggiano is certainly one that has best preserved its ancient appearance of the fortress and it is this aspect which is showed to those who reach the old town. The natural appearance of Roman Oppidum
, still now remembered by the well preserved plan of the Cardo and of the Decumanus, was renewed in the Norman period and in the age of Frederick II of Hohenstaufen.
, in the Peloponnese
. In the late 19th century Giacomo Racioppi attributed its foundation to Oscan-Sabellian
tribes driven out from their lands as a result of the expansion of the Etruscan civilization
. Lately they say Tegianum was built by Lucanians early in the 4th century BC, and later was a municipal town of Lucania
, made into a colony by Emperor Nero
.
During the Middle Ages
that Diano had a predominant role in the history of the Vallo di Diano
. In Norman times, the Sanseverino
family, counts of Marsico
and later princes of Salerno
, took over the fief of Diano which was composed of the hamlets of Sassano
, Monte San Giacomo
, San Rufo
, San Pietro al Tanagro
and Sant'Arsenio
. Teggiano was ruled by the Sanseverino for over three centuries (1239–1556). They chose the castle as a stronghold in which they could take shelter during emergencies. At that time Diano was well surrounded by high walls with 25 guard towers and four gates. In 1497, under Antonello Sanseverino of Salerno, the city resisted the siege undertaken by Frederick IV of Naples
for 3 months. Following a new rebellion, led this time by Ferrante, last Prince of Salerno, in 1552 the Sanseverino family was expelled from the kingdom. Teggiano became a fief of other noble families including the Gomez da Silva, the Grimaldi, the Caracciolo, the Villani, the Colonna
, the Calà and Schipani.
In 1564, after the Council of Trent
, Bishop Paolo Varallo instituted in Diano one of the first seminaries in Italy, completed in 1601. On July 17, 1586 Pope Sixtus V gave the right to establish the residence in Diano, in the actual see, to Bishop Lelio Morello, giving to Diano Episcopalian prerogatives and raised in the meanwhile the church of S. Maria Maggiore to the honor of Cathedral. The action of the Counter-Reformation
and the presence of high offices brought in the later centuries a radical remaking of the Romano-Gothic
churches in Baroque style.
Two major earthquakes concerned Teggiano's territory: the Neapolitan earthquake that occurred on December 16, 1857 (estimated of magnitude 6.9 on the Richter Scale), and the Irpininan earthquake
on November 23, 1980 (measuring 6.89 on the Richter Scale).
, the recorded population was 8241 in the 2001.
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 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...
, Italy
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...
, in the province of Salerno
Province of Salerno
The Province of Salerno is a province in the Campania region of Italy.-Geography:The largest towns in the province are: Salerno, the capital, which has a population of 139,579; Cava de' Tirreni with a population of 53,488; Battipaglia with a population of 51,115; and Nocera Inferiore which has a...
. It is situated on an isolated eminence above the upper part of the valley to which it gives the name of Vallo di Diano
Vallo di Diano
The Vallo di Diano is an italian valley of the south-eastern side of Campania, in the Province of Salerno.-Geography:...
.
Among the historic centers of the Province of Salerno
Province of Salerno
The Province of Salerno is a province in the Campania region of Italy.-Geography:The largest towns in the province are: Salerno, the capital, which has a population of 139,579; Cava de' Tirreni with a population of 53,488; Battipaglia with a population of 51,115; and Nocera Inferiore which has a...
, Teggiano is certainly one that has best preserved its ancient appearance of the fortress and it is this aspect which is showed to those who reach the old town. The natural appearance of Roman Oppidum
Oppidum
Oppidum is a Latin word meaning the main settlement in any administrative area of ancient Rome. The word is derived from the earlier Latin ob-pedum, "enclosed space," possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *pedóm-, "occupied space" or "footprint."Julius Caesar described the larger Celtic Iron Age...
, still now remembered by the well preserved plan of the Cardo and of the Decumanus, was renewed in the Norman period and in the age of Frederick II of Hohenstaufen.
History
Luca Mandelli, a historian of the 17th century, ascribes its foundation to settlers from the Greek city of TegeaTegea
Tegea was a settlement in ancient Greece, and it is also a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Tripoli, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat was the village Stadio....
, in the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
. In the late 19th century Giacomo Racioppi attributed its foundation to Oscan-Sabellian
Sabellian
Sabellian can refer to*Sabellian, a believer in Sabellianism, the nontrinitarian belief that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are different modes or aspects of one God, rather than three distinct persons in God Himself...
tribes driven out from their lands as a result of the expansion of the Etruscan civilization
Etruscan civilization
Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy in the area corresponding roughly to Tuscany. The ancient Romans called its creators the Tusci or Etrusci...
. Lately they say Tegianum was built by Lucanians early in the 4th century BC, and later was a municipal town of Lucania
Lucania
Lucania was an ancient district of southern Italy, extending from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Gulf of Taranto. To the north it adjoined Campania, Samnium and Apulia, and to the south it was separated by a narrow isthmus from the district of Bruttium...
, made into a colony by Emperor Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
.
During the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
that Diano had a predominant role in the history of the Vallo di Diano
Vallo di Diano
The Vallo di Diano is an italian valley of the south-eastern side of Campania, in the Province of Salerno.-Geography:...
. In Norman times, the Sanseverino
Sanseverino
Sanseverino is a surname, and may refer to:* Roscemanno Sanseverino, 12th century cardinal* Ferdinando Sanseverino , prince of Salerno and Italian condottiero* Gaetano Sanseverino , Italian theologian...
family, counts of Marsico
Marsico
Marsico may refer to two Italian municipalities:*Marsico Nuovo, in the Province of Potenza *Marsicovetere, in the Province of Potenza...
and later princes of Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
, took over the fief of Diano which was composed of the hamlets of Sassano
Sassano
Sassano is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy....
, Monte San Giacomo
Monte San Giacomo
Monte San Giacomo is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy....
, San Rufo
San Rufo
San Rufo is a village and comune in the province of Salerno, in the Campania region of southern Italy.-Main sights:There are remains of the ancient castle, while the town centre contains some buildings from the 17th and 18th century....
, San Pietro al Tanagro
San Pietro al Tanagro
San Pietro al Tanagro is a village and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-west Italy.-Geography:The village is bordered by Atena Lucana, Corleto Monforte, San Rufo, Sant'Arsenio and Teggiano....
and Sant'Arsenio
Sant'Arsenio
Sant'Arsenio is a town and comune in the Province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy, located about 180 km southeast of Naples and about 76 km southeast of Salerno...
. Teggiano was ruled by the Sanseverino for over three centuries (1239–1556). They chose the castle as a stronghold in which they could take shelter during emergencies. At that time Diano was well surrounded by high walls with 25 guard towers and four gates. In 1497, under Antonello Sanseverino of Salerno, the city resisted the siege undertaken by Frederick IV of Naples
Frederick IV of Naples
Frederick IV , sometimes known as Frederick I or Federico d'Aragona, was the last King of Naples of the House of Trastámara, ruling from 1496 to 1501...
for 3 months. Following a new rebellion, led this time by Ferrante, last Prince of Salerno, in 1552 the Sanseverino family was expelled from the kingdom. Teggiano became a fief of other noble families including the Gomez da Silva, the Grimaldi, the Caracciolo, the Villani, the Colonna
Colonna family
The Colonna family is an Italian noble family; it was powerful in medieval and Renaissance Rome, supplying one Pope and many other Church and political leaders...
, the Calà and Schipani.
In 1564, after the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
, Bishop Paolo Varallo instituted in Diano one of the first seminaries in Italy, completed in 1601. On July 17, 1586 Pope Sixtus V gave the right to establish the residence in Diano, in the actual see, to Bishop Lelio Morello, giving to Diano Episcopalian prerogatives and raised in the meanwhile the church of S. Maria Maggiore to the honor of Cathedral. The action of the Counter-Reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
and the presence of high offices brought in the later centuries a radical remaking of the Romano-Gothic
Romano-Gothic
The Romano-Gothic is an architectural style, also called Early Gothic, which evolved in Europe in the 12th century from the Romanesque style. It is characterized by rounded and pointed arches on a vertical plane. Flying buttresses were used, but are mainly undecorated. Romanesque buttresses were...
churches in Baroque style.
Two major earthquakes concerned Teggiano's territory: the Neapolitan earthquake that occurred on December 16, 1857 (estimated of magnitude 6.9 on the Richter Scale), and the Irpininan earthquake
1980 Irpinia earthquake
The 1980 Irpinia earthquake took place in the Irpinia region in Southern Italy on Sunday, November 23, 1980. Measuring 6.89 on the Richter Scale, the quake, centered on the village of Conza, killed 2,914 people, injured more than 10,000 and left 300,000 homeless. It is known in Italy as Terremoto...
on November 23, 1980 (measuring 6.89 on the Richter Scale).
Demographic trends
The population of Teggiano has fluctuated since 1861, reaching a low of 4908 inhabitants in 1911, and a high of 9223 inhabitants in 1951. According to ISTATIstituto Nazionale di Statistica
Istituto Nazionale di Statistica is the Italian national statistical institute.-History:Istat was created in 1926 to collect and organize essential data about the nation. Administering the census is one of its activities...
, the recorded population was 8241 in the 2001.
Main sights
Ruins of the ancient city can be traced at the foot of the hill; a Roman bridge is also present. Other landmarks are:- The Sanseverino Castle, built in Norman times. In the early years of the 15th century the country of Diano was forfeited by the Neapolitan Crown due the expulsion of its feudal lords, the Sanseverino; then the King Ladislaus of Durazzo had the castle restored, ordering that every village in the Vallo di DianoVallo di DianoThe Vallo di Diano is an italian valley of the south-eastern side of Campania, in the Province of Salerno.-Geography:...
contributed to the expenses. Another restoration was performed in 1417, commissioned this time by the Sanseverino family. - Church and Convent of Saint Francis of Assisi. Its construction dates back to the earliest years of the 14th century, as attested by the inscription placed on the portal, dated 1307. The Convent is considered, around 1340, belonging to the custodia di Principatus of the Order of Friars Minor. The Convent was suppressed in 1808 by the Napoleonic laws. The plan has a "barn"-like layout, very widespread in the constructions of the Order in the Italian southern area: a rectangular room, covered with a roof hut with a square apse once crowned by a cross vault. In 1745 a false ceiling, painted by De Martino, hid the trusses and the single-lancet windows located to the upper side walls. Frescoes in the convent include Scenes from the life of St. Francis, executed by an unknown master in the first half of the 14th century, and a Franciscan Saints and St. Michael Archangel from the second half of the 15th century. Other features include the 16th century's choir, as well as the cloister with a central well.
- St. Antuono church, probably built before the 11th century, and located on the north side of the old town not far from the walls of the Castle. The exterior, with modest structural lines, shows the steeple built in the thick of the facade: on the right side is placed on the portal the architrave decorated with a delicate interweaving arboreal. The interior has a basilica layout: a small main aisle once flanked by two aisles divided by a shrunk colonnade. Part of the right nave was demolished in 1958 to make room for the road. In recent restoration works have emerged on the walls inside an important cycle of medieval frescoes.
External links
- Official website
- Pro Loco Teggiano
- Tourist portal of Teggiano
- Teggiano Latino Festival
- Teggiano Jazz