L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 www.italoamericano.org 16 L'Italo-Americano LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE D ear Readers, my father Vincenzo's ho me town of Pomari- co, province di Mat- era, regione di Basilicata, will be getting a little ink this year, due to the fact Italy's ancient city of Matera has been declared Europe's Capital of Culture. If you or your family will be visiting Matera and then some of the little towns nearby, let me put in a plug for Pomarico. First will be the big Vivaldi Music Festival as Antonio Vivaldi's maternal nonno was born in Pomarico. The Chiesa Matrice, dedicated to Saint Michael the Arcangelo, patron saint of Pomarico, the Clock Tower and the Casa del Miracolo di S. Francesco di Assisi are significant attraction of the village. On the outskirts of Pomarico are 400 acres of forest with pine trees, flora and fauna of many diverse species. *** My father Vincenzo, always said that the history of his home- town went back "Prima di Cristo." It turns out he wasn't exaggerating. One thousand three hundred years before the Christian era, the cult of Hercules was thriving among the ancient people of the region. Mythology tells us that among the famous legendary "Twelve labors of Hercules" was his stealing of the golden apples from the garden of the Hes- perides, which was guarded by the dragon of one hundred heads. For this feat, Hercules was given the name of Pomarius, namely protector of the orchards. The territory of Pomarico was consecrated to Her- cules for the purpose of wining his protection over its fertile fields, and perhaps received the name Posmarium. Old Pomarico was located on top of the highest hill in the local- ity of San Giacomo, 415 meters above sea level and goes back to the early Pelasgian civilization (circa 2000 BC). Present day Pomarico was built by the people of "Old Pomarico" after their original set- tlement was destroyed three times, and rises 455 meters above sea level. The year 1043 AD marks the beginning of the Norman domi- nation in Basilicata, and Pomari- co was linked with the destiny of the County of Montescaglioso. The dispute over the territory last- ed almost 700 years. Finally, in 1714, an agreement was reached whereby the Benedictine Abbey of Montescaglioso gained control over the portion where Castro Cicurio was located. Castro Cicu- rio, which means a "fortification atop the hill", goes back to Roman times. *** From Pomarico's church archives' records, we learn that the parish, composed of eight churches, had an average of 30-35 priests, with a peak of 65 in 1743. The actual civic center of Pomarico was founded in 850 AD after the old Pomarico was destroyed by Turkish hordes.  The place was an excel- lent choice because it was built at the top of a very steep hill. Pomarico means "a place filled with fruit trees". Since 1806, the crest or shield of the town shows a large tree and a picture of St. Michael, the Archangel. As years went by, the popula- tion of Pomarico grew. In 1400, several Greeks established them- selves outside the walls and formed the town of "Casale dei Greci" (the Greek colony). A 1709 fresco inside the Curia of Matera will give visitors a better idea of the growth of the town. Many feudal lords owned Pomarico. Among the best known are Guglielmo Brac- cio di Ferro (William the Iron Arm), Roberto Giuscar- do, Giovanni di Monforte and Francesco del Balzo, who is credited with construction of Pomarico's Chiesa Madre in 1450. Fast forward: Currently the Mayor of Pomarico is Franco Mancini. The region is Basilicata. The pop- ulation is 4,288 and the City Hall is on Corso Garibaldi. If you walk and mention that Maria Gloria of L'Italo Americano in Califor- nia sent you the hardcover Vivaldi Book is yours free. *** Mathematics was the one sub- ject in which the "paesani" excelled. Even if they had only attended school up to the third grade, they could add, subtract, multiply and do their long divi- sions faster and more accurately than any college educated Italian American progeny in later years. In Pomarico, there was a math wiz named Nicola Fiorenti- no, born in 1755, who at 15 years of age won the chair of mathe- matics at the Lyceum of L'Aquila, but could not teach there because he was not yet 18 years old. At age 20, he obtained the chair of mathematics and rational philosophy at Bari. At age 26, he was appointed superin- tendent of studies at the Royal School, at a time when to occupy such position one had to be 40 or plus. *** The anthem to St.Michael the Archangel, Patron Saint of Pomarico, was composed in 1942 by then Pomarico Band Director, Bernardino Sisto. St. Michael is the leader of the Angelic Host. his Name, Michael, means "who is like God" - his bat- tle cry in the encounter with the devil. Whenever work of great power is to be done, it is St. Michael who is chosen to be sent. He came to help the children of Israel; he prepared the Israelites for their return from Persian cap- tivity; he led the brave Maccabees to victory, and he rescued the body of Moses from the hands of the devil. St.Michael has always been invoked by the Church, both in the East and West, to "defend us in the battle" against the powers of darkness. In the 4th century, a church was built near Constan- tinople and dedicated to him. On May 8, 492, St Michael appeared on Mount Gargano, some 40 Km northeast of Foggia in southern Italy. The sanctuary of San Michele is one of the oldest and most celebrated in Europe. *** During World War I, 62 men of Pomarico were killed, 23 were wounded or disabled. In the entire province of Matera, the only gold medal decoration was conferred in 1927 to Francesco Caggiani, born in Pomarico in 1895; he was a sergeant in the 156th Foot Sol- dier Regiment. "In the war action of August 4, 1916, after all the officers of his unit had been killed, he assumed direct com- mand, leading his men to the vic- torious assault" (Monfalcone). Pomarico then dedicated a city street and the school building to his name. In 1925, the monument to the War Veterans was dedicat- ed. Sixty persons died during the Second World War. In 1989, the city administration ordered a plaque to be erected in memory of those who lost their lives in that war.

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