Miglionico
Let's Explore Miglionico Together: A Journey Through History and Nature
Hello friends, today I will take you on a discovery of a small town in Basilicata: Miglionico, also known as ''Megghiuòneche'' in the local dialect. With its 2337 inhabitants, this historic center located in the province of Matera, is a perfect destination for those who love history and nature.
## Physical Geography
Located in the middle valley of Bradano, Miglionico is situated on a hill between the rivers Bradano and Basento in the central-eastern part of the province. In its territory lies the San Giuliano Regional Reserve, a magical place that preserves all the beauty of nature intact. The right bank of the Bradano River and the San Giuliano lake belong partly to the municipality's territory, making the environment even more suggestive. The village borders on the north with the Municipality of Matera (21 km), on the east with Pomarico (10 km) and Montescaglioso (24 km), on the south with Ferrandina (15 km), and on the west with Grottole (13 km).
## History
### Origins
If you are passionate about history, Miglionico is the right place for you. The origins of this place are remote, probably dating back to an Enotrian city, as evidenced by the numerous archaeological finds found in the area. According to tradition, Miglionico was founded by Milone, a famous athlete from Crotone in the 6th century BC. According to another interpretation, however, the founder of Miglionico was Milone of Taranto, a lieutenant of Pyrrhus who arrived on the hills between Bradano and Basento and founded a military colony calling it Miglionico. Clearly, its history is closely linked to that of its imposing castle.
### The Castle
The Castle of Malconsiglio is one of the strongest symbols of Miglionico. It dates back to the 8th-9th century, but in 1110 Count Alessandro di Andria, at the time lord of the castle, carried out the first extension by building the upper floor. The third phase of its construction took place in the fifteenth century when new towers and defensive walkways were added. The castle has the shape of a parallelogram, flanked by seven towers, some square (the oldest), two double towers, and other circular towers, located at the vertices of the construction. The current entrance is located to the northeast, while the original one destroyed by the earthquake of 1857 faced south.
## History of the Castle
The castle of Miglionico played a key role in one of the most interesting historical events in Italy: the Conspiracy of the Barons against King Ferdinand I of Naples, which took place in 1485. The Castle of Malconsiglio was, in fact, the headquarters of one of the two circles of the Conspiracy. The Ghibelline circle, led by Federico da Montefeltro, was hosted precisely in the Castle, while the Guelph circle was located in the area of Palazzo San Gervasio. But the plot was discovered and the conspirators were punished, many of whom were beheaded or imprisoned. The Castle of Malconsiglio then became the property of the Kingdom of Naples.
Today the Castle of Malconsiglio has been restored and can be visited. Taking a romantic walk within its walls remains a unique experience.
## Curiosities
To conclude this journey through the history of Miglionico, I want to tell you a fascinating curiosity. In popular tradition, in fact, the village is known for the legend of the ''Bue di Miglionico'' (the Ox of Miglionico). It is said that a farmer had a very generous ox, so much so that it produced fresh and good milk twice a day. But one day a foreign visitor asked the farmer to sell his animal. The farmer refused, but the man insisted, and in the end, the farmer agreed. But the new owner of the ox was struck by a strange illness and the ox stopped giving milk. Worried about the situation, the man decided to bring the ox back to its old owner, who agreed to take it back. But the ox, found in the stable, was already dead.
## Conclusion
Miglionico is a gem of Basilicata, offering history, culture, and nature all in one place. If you are planning a vacation in this region, you cannot miss a visit to this ancient village. Walking through its narrow streets, admiring the Castle of Malconsiglio, and strolling in the San Giuliano Regional Reserve are experiences that will leave you with an indelible memory.
Acknowledgments
We thank the authors of the contents and images used for this article: Wikipedia and Symbol Miglionico by Salvatore Ailà.
