Carlopoli
Welcome to Carlopoli: Discovering an ancient village immersed in nature
Welcome to Carlopoli, an ancient village immersed in the nature of Calabria. Situated at the confluence of three towns of different origins - Tiriolo, Scigliano, and Taverna - Carlopoli is a place that influenced the history of these lands and represents one of the most frequented transit routes of the Middle Ages. Let's discover the history of this municipality and its places of interest.
Physical Geography: A privileged location
Carlopoli is located at the center of an ideal triangle created by the towns of Tiriolo, Scigliano, and Taverna. This privileged position was influenced by the presence of the Abbey of Santa Maria di Corazzo, which made the village one of the most frequented transit routes, especially in the Middle Ages.
History: The foundation of Carlopoli
The foundation of the village dates back to 1625 when some men presented Count Carlo Cicala a formal request to found a new hamlet in those lands and named it Carlopoli in honor of the Count. Five years after the enfeoffment of the village, Carlo Cicala obtained the title of Prince. In the seventeenth century, economic activities in Carlopoli were managed by very few families: Montoro and Guzzo, who came from Tiriolo and later, Talarico, Pingitore, Brutto, and Nicotera. The vestiges of ancient noble palaces, still standing in Carlopoli, testify to that time.
Carlopoli: An ancient village
Carlopoli became a municipality only in 1832, thanks to Ferdinando II of Bourbon. In 1867, the city council unanimously decided to aggregate the town of Castagna. In the territory of Carlopoli, there are several archaeological remains demonstrating that these lands were affected by human settlements in the protohistoric age. The Abbey of Santa Maria di Corazzo, built in the eleventh century by the Benedictine monks, stands on a vast area of the river Corace valley. The Cistercians of French culture developed the economy of the abbey by cultivating the fertile land around it, raising flocks, and making Corazzo a self-sufficient "City of God" thanks to their work and ingenuity.
Monuments and places of interest: Discovering the history of Carlopoli
Several archaeological findings were made in the last century throughout the territory that includes Scigliano and Tiriolo, demonstrating that these lands were affected by human settlements in the protohistoric age. One of the most recent findings concerns the territory of the municipality of Carlopoli, in the locality of Terzo della Castagna, where artifacts dating back to the Copper Age were found along with consistent traces of artifacts from successive epochs: Bruzzian, Roman, and Medieval. In the territory of Carlopoli, you can find the remains of the Abbey of Santa Maria di Corazzo, one of the most important monuments of the village where you can discover the history of the abbey and the monks who built it.
Conclusion
Carlopoli is an ancient village that still retains the testimonies of its history. Its privileged location and the presence of the Abbey of Santa Maria di Corazzo make it an ideal place to visit. Discovering the historical and cultural heritage of Carlopoli means immersing oneself in the nature of Calabria and discovering the beauty of a village that influenced the history of these lands. Come and discover Carlopoli, the City of Carlo!
