Caraffa del Bianco
Welcome to Caraffa del Bianco!
Hello everyone! Today I want to tell you about a town in Calabria that you surely do not know: Caraffa del Bianco. If you are looking for a place to spend your vacation in peace, away from the chaos of the cities, this is the right place for you. Here you can enjoy the beauty of nature and discover the history and traditions of a small village surrounded by greenery.
Discovering the physical geography
Imagine yourself on a hill at 355 meters above sea level with a healthy climate and surrounded by forests of olive trees, oaks, chestnuts, and cherries. Isn't that fantastic? And this is just the beginning. Caraffa del Bianco is located on the Aspromonte, east of Reggio Calabria, and overlooks the valley of the Laverde river. Here you will find numerous water sources and breathtaking landscapes that will leave you breathless.
The history of Caraffa del Bianco
Like many Italian towns, Caraffa del Bianco also has a very interesting history. The name of the municipality derives from the surname of the feudal lord Fabrizio Carafa, who, from 1589 to 1594, founded a new settlement near the town of Bianco. Initially, the new inhabitants built their houses in the place called "Il Pizzo," but due to a lightning interpreted as a bad omen, they decided to rebuild them in the locality called "Chiesa Vecchia," which is still visible today. Prince Carafa also bought the Boccalupi Fountain and destined it for the use of the Caraffesi to supply the mills and to free them from the subjugation of Sant'Agata. Another interesting fact about the history of Caraffa del Bianco is that in the Caraffese territory, precious breed horses called "Regia Razza" were bred and sold to the royal stables of Naples. Even today, this breeding is remembered in the municipal standard, which depicts a rampant white horse on a red background.
Caraffa del Bianco becomes an autonomous municipality
In 1806, the new king of Naples, Giuseppe Bonaparte, decreed the overthrow of feudalism, and Caraffa del Bianco became an autonomous municipality, part of the district of Bianco and the district of Gerace. The following year, in 1847, the municipality was involved in the Gerace Revolt, a Mazzinian insurrectionary movement organized by five young patriots. Among them stood out Rocco Verduci, a young liberal landowner from Caraffa, who was eventually captured, sentenced to death, and shot on October 2, 1847, along with his fellow fighters (Gaetano Ruffo, Michele Bello, Pietro Mazzone, and Domenico Salvadori). This event is still remembered in the history of the town and in the hearts of its inhabitants.
Caraffa del Bianco today
Today, Caraffa del Bianco has only 454 inhabitants but offers visitors a rich history of traditions and breathtaking landscapes. The Church of San Giovanni Battista, the Church of Santa Lucia, and the eighteenth-century Church of San Rocco are worth a visit. But the best time to visit the town is undoubtedly during the feast of San Giovanni Battista, on June 24, when the streets are decorated with colorful lights and there are shows and a festival of local products. In short, if you want to immerse yourself in the history and nature of southern Italy, Caraffa del Bianco is definitely the right place for you. Come and visit it and let us know what you think!
