Caraffa di Catanzaro
Caraffa di Catanzaro: discovering a small Calabrian town
Caraffa di Catanzaro, or "Garrafë" as it is called in the Arbëreshë language, is a town of 1786 inhabitants located in the province of Catanzaro, in the Calabria region. If you are looking for a small, quaint town far from mass tourism, Caraffa might be the right destination for you. Let's discover its geography, history, and points of interest.
Physical Geography
Caraffa is located on the outskirts of the city of Catanzaro, surrounded by greenery. The valley below the historic center is home to an industrial area that has experienced strong development in recent years. But if you want to enjoy a breathtaking view, you have to go to the highest point of the town, where on clear days you can simultaneously admire the Ionian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
History
The history of Caraffa is closely linked to the presence of the Arbëreshë, Albanians who moved to Calabria following religious persecutions suffered by Orthodox Christians under Ottoman rule. According to Domenico Zangari, author of "Le colonie italo albanesi di Calabria", the Arbëreshë arrived in Caraffa around 1550, coming from the settlement of Arenoso where they had settled around 1467.
Due to the need to make room for crops, the Albanians of Arenoso had the nearby mountain deforested, causing landslides that swallowed up the village. So Ferdinando I Carafa, nephew of Galeotto Caraffa and Baron of Tiriolo, allowed many Albanian families from Arenoso to move to the nearby locality of "Serra Mazza" (arb. "Rahj i Croit"), with the condition that the new settlement would take its name from his family "Carafa".
The territory of Caraffa was not spared from the earthquake of 1783, which caused the destruction of the town and a high number of deaths. Not being deemed convenient to rebuild it in the original location, it was decided to rebuild it in a new site. The construction of the church began, which was completed in 1798 with its blessing.
Symbols
The flag of Caraffa is a blue cloth.
Monuments and Places of Interest
If you visit Caraffa, don't miss the Church of Maiorana, dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie. It is a modest eclectic construction, built by local craftsmen and decorated with some late-Romanesque frescoes.
In conclusion, Caraffa di Catanzaro is a small Calabrian town that encompasses a fascinating history and some places of interest to discover. If you are looking for an authentic place, far from mass tourism, it could be the ideal destination for a trip out of town.
