Centrache
The smallest municipality in the province of Catanzaro
Cèntrache is a small municipality in Calabria, located at the foot of the south-eastern slopes of the Serralta di San Vito in the upper basin of the Beltrame stream on the Ionian side of the Calabrian Serre. This village of 384 inhabitants is the smallest, in terms of population, in the province of Catanzaro and covers an area of about 7.87 km² between the municipalities of Montepaone, Olivadi, Palermiti, Petrizzi, and Vallefiorita. The village of Cèntrache extends almost on the plain on the slope of a hill at 458 meters above sea level southwest of Catanzaro, which remains connected thanks to the provincial road that leads to the road 181.
History and origins of the name
Also known as Centrico, Centrici, and Centreca, Cèntrache was a hamlet of Squillace included in the county in the Norman era. In 1270 it was subordinate to Giovanni di Monfort, then to the Marzano (family) from 1314 to 1464, to Federico I of Naples from 1483 to 1494, and finally to the Borgia until the first half of the eighteenth century. Later, until the abolition of feudalism, it belonged to the Messinians de Gregorio. During the Kingdom of Naples (1806-1815) (1805-1815), it suffered some damage due to its hostile behavior towards the occupiers. Throughout its history, Cèntrache has suffered serious damages caused by earthquakes and floods. The parish church, built in the seventeenth century, underwent numerous revisions in the eighteenth century and subsequently which almost completely altered its original features.
Monuments and symbols
Despite the various revisions, the parish church still shows clear signs of its original construction. In the center of the village, there was also a large fountain, which unfortunately was destroyed. The municipality's coat of arms was granted by the President of the Republic's decree of September 12, 2005, while the standard is a blue drape.
Society and traditions
The parish dedicated to the Annunciation is located in the Archdiocese of Catanzaro-Squillace, the patron saint is St. Onofrio, honored and celebrated on the second Sunday in August. A long time ago, there was a fair held on the first Saturday and the following Sunday in August, established by decree of August 29, 1833. During the political elections of 1860, it expressed 340 yes and 1 no for the Proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy and in the institutional referendum of 1946 gave 692 votes to the monarchy and 83 to the republic.
Economy and activities
The economy of Cèntrache has always been predominantly agricultural, with a considerable production of cereals, chestnuts, fruit, olives, and grapes, with good quality wine and oil. The breeding of sheep and the processing of milk are carried out by family-run businesses, while in the village, there were textile artisans who worked with hand looms to produce silk and cotton blankets and scarves.
In summary, Cèntrache is a small gem in the province of Catanzaro, with ancient history and strong traditions, where the economy is based on agriculture and breeding. A place immersed in nature where peace and tranquility reign, the perfect place for family gatherings or a romantic getaway.
