Mandatoriccio
Welcome to Mandatoriccio: An Overview of the Municipality
Hello everyone! Today, I will talk to you about Mandatoriccio, a municipality in the province of Cosenza in Calabria, Italy. With a population of 2615 inhabitants, this picturesque town is located 561 meters above sea level at the foot of Sila Greca, between the valleys of the Trionto and Nica' rivers. Separated from the historic center is Marina di Mandatoriccio, a popular seaside resort located on the low Ionian coast of the province of Cosenza.
Physical Geography
Mandatoriccio is a municipality of the province of Cosenza, located at the foot of Sila Greca, a famous mid-altitude tourist destination with rich vegetation and a panoramic view of the entire Ionian Sea coast. The territory of the municipality extends from a flat coastal area to the hills and mountains of the hinterland.
Origins of the Name
The name of the town refers to the surname of the founder of the town, Teodoro Mandatoriccio. This family name may derive from the Latin language ''mandatoricius,'' from mandator (subordinate) or mundator (cleaner). Alternatively, according to others, it derives from the Greek language ''mandratoras'' (herd owner).
History
If you are passionate about history, Mandatoriccio is a perfect place for you! Founded at the beginning of the seventeenth century by Teodoro Mandatoriccio, Duke of Crosia and heir of Gio. Michele Mandatoriccio, who had acquired the barony of Pietrapaola in 1583, as a hamlet of the territory of Pietrapaola. However, the area was inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by the archaeological finds discovered near the locality.
During Teodoro's rule, the town prospered economically thanks to the shrewd development of agriculture and urbanistically for the reception of first Albanian immigrants employed in services and then refugees from the villages of Cosenza destroyed by the Saracens and the earthquake. Mandatoriccio passed, through female inheritance, to the noble Cosenza family of Sambiase, which owned a vast complex of feudal titles, from Campana to Bocchigliero, Crosia, Caloveto, Calopezzati, Pietrapaola, and Mandatoriccio.
In 1783, Mandatoriccio was hit and destroyed by the Southern Calabria earthquake of 1783. Immediately after the earthquake, Giuseppe Maria Galanti on behalf of the Kingdom of Naples made a reconnaissance of the territory and mentioned the Castle, "with a drawbridge and four bastions," as noteworthy for its Spanish-style. He also mentioned the Mother Church, whose architecture repeats the Naples style of the Church of San Francesco.
In the Kingdom of Naples, it was initially a university of the government of Cariati and then a municipality of the district under this center's jurisdiction. With the Bourbon's restructuring operation of 1811, which established municipality and districts, keeping Mandatoriccio in the jurisdiction of Cariati, it attributed Pietrapaola as a fraction.
Conclusions
In short, Mandatoriccio is a beautiful municipality with a lot of history and breathtaking views. There are many things to do and explore, from visiting the Castle to relaxing on the beach of Marina di Mandatoriccio. We hope to see you soon here in Mandatoriccio!
