Aiello Calabro
Aiello Calabro: Calabria's Hidden Gem
If you're looking for a beautiful village to relax and enjoy nature, then you must visit Aiello Calabro. This small municipality, located in the province of Cosenza, has only 1388 inhabitants but has much to offer to anyone who wants to escape the hectic city life.
Physical Geography
Aiello is a true gem nestled in the hills of the Tyrrhenian hinterland. It is a perfect place for nature and history lovers, thanks to its suggestive historic center and the presence of the ruins of the Aiello Calabro Castle. Don't miss the Cybo palace, built in the sixteenth century, and other noble palaces from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, without forgetting the Cybo Chapel at the former Convent of Observants.
History
The origins of Aiello date back to Roman times, as evidenced by the name "Agellus", which means "small field". The strategic location of the village, which was located on a deviation of the Via Capua-Rhegium, made it a point of confluence for many civilizations.
During the Saracen domination, legend has it that the inhabitants of Aiello were able to resist the siege by throwing cheese pizzas from the walls of the castle to show they had enough supplies. During the Norman period, the village was besieged for four months before surrendering to Robert Guiscard.
With the Aragonese, the fief of Aiello was assigned to Francesco Siscar, viceroy of Calabria and Count of Ajello. During this period, Aiello experienced great demographic and economic expansion. During the Spanish Viceroyalty, agriculture and silk production increased significantly.
In 1566, the fief was purchased by the Cybo-Malaspina family, of Tuscan-Ligurian origins. Aiello thus became a State, going from a county to a marquisate and then to a duchy in 1605.
During the French decade, the village fell under the jurisdiction of the canton of Belmonte and then the government of Rogliano, until it became the district capital in 1811.
Aiello also experienced Bourbon Restoration, the unification of Italy thanks to Garibaldi, the Brigandage and the 1905 Calabrian Earthquake that destroyed much of the town.
Conclusions
In short, Aiello Calabro is a small municipality that encloses great treasures. You can admire palaces and churches dating back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, explore the ruins of the castle, and enjoy the tranquility of the surrounding nature. Moreover, you can immerse yourself in the thousand-year-old history of Calabria and discover how the inhabitants of Aiello were able to defeat their enemies with creativity and determination. Don't miss the opportunity to visit this beautiful place!
