Carosino
Welcome to Carosino!
Hello everyone! Today we'll talk about Carosino, a town in the province of Taranto, in the beautiful Salento region. With its 6,595 inhabitants, it's a small but fascinating city famous for its wine and its history. Let's start with the physical geography.
Physical geography
Carosino is located in the northern part of Salento, south of the eastern Taranto Murgia, and is surrounded by other towns like San Giorgio Ionico to the west, Monteparano to the south, and Monteiasi and Grottaglie to the north. The town is located 74 meters above sea level and is only 13 km away from Taranto. The surrounding area is flat and very suggestive.
History
Carosino's history dates back to the time of the Messapian peoples, who often frequented the area. The area was resettled after a period of abandonment following the plundering of nearby Taranto by the Saracens in 927, and took the name "Citrignano". The first historical sources date back to the Angevin period, in 1348, when the fiefdom of Carosino was sold to the Palmerio di Capua by the Capitignano. During the Greek-Gothic war, the city decided to split into hamlets and rock houses, and agriculture and animal husbandry became the only economic activities.
In the 15th century, Albanian armies completely destroyed the small hamlet. In 1471, the fiefdom was purchased by the Antoglietta family and resettled again thanks to the authorization of the Viceroy of Naples, Carlo di Lannoy. In 1517, the fiefdom passed to the Simonetta family and then to the Muscettola in 1614. During this period, the Byzantine rite probably disappeared together with the Arbëreshë language, all thanks to the work of Archbishop Lelio Brancaccio, who wanted to extend the Catholic rite in Latin.
The barony then passed into the hands of the Albertini and Imperiali families, until feudalism was abolished in the Kingdom of Naples in 1806. The Berio-Marulli family became the owner of the Duchy of Carosino, which in 1875 became a municipality of the Kingdom of Italy after a plebiscite. The Marulli family sold their land properties to Roberto d'Ayala Valva, along with the Ducal Palace, which we will see in the next section.
Symbols
The symbol of Carosino is represented by the municipal coat of arms, granted by a royal decree in 1928. The banner is a blue flag bordered in yellow, perfect to represent the beauty of the city.
Monuments and places of interest
Carosino is famous for the Wine Festival, a celebration that honors the connection between the city and the world of wine. But the city also offers a modest artistic heritage, starting with the Ducal Palace.
The Ducal Palace of Carosino was built in the 1400s by the Simonetta family, who in 1517 decided to purchase the fiefdom of Carosino and live there. In 1524, the building passed to the Muscettola, Albertini and finally the Maruli families. Today the palace is owned by Roberto d'Ayala Valva, who has restored it and made it open to the public.
Conclusions
The history of Carosino is very interesting, and the city offers many beauties to discover. If you're passing through Salento, it's definitely worth taking a look at this splendid city. The Wine Festival, the Ducal Palace, and the surrounding landscape will leave you speechless. Thank you for following us on this brief tour, we hope we made you fall in love with Carosino!
