Pollena Trocchia
Discovering Pollena Trocchia: History, Symbols, and Places of Interest
Pollena Trocchia is a municipality in the metropolitan city of Naples in Campania, with a population of 12,714. The town is located within the Vesuvius National Park and has a fascinating history.
History
The origins of Pollena Trocchia date back to the Etruscans, Samnites, and Osci peoples who settled on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius when it was still a single volcano. During the acquisition of "Campo Romano" by the Romans, the area between Naples and Nola became a vacation spot.
Pollena gets its name from the worship of the god Apollo, while Trocchia comes from the Latin "trochlea," for the village renowned for its products of the land, especially grapes. During the eruption of 1631, streams of hot mud from Vesuvius seriously damaged Pollena, while Trocchia was completely buried.
On May 4, 1811, with the urban-administrative reform of Gioacchino Murat, the two hamlets merged into a single municipality.
Symbols
The municipal emblem and flag were granted by royal decree on October 6, 1927. The flag is a piece of azure.
Monuments and places of interest
Pollena Trocchia has numerous religious architectures of interest. The Parish Church of the Annunciation in Trocchia is a remarkable example of 19th-century architecture, built in its present form in the second half of the 19th century and completely restored in 2002. The Parish Church of St. James the Greater in Pollena, completed around 1790, is another example of 19th-century architecture.
Furthermore, the well-known Neapolitan proverb "Massa, Pollena, and Trocchia, three countries in a single parish" is not entirely accurate; the religious communities of Pollena and Trocchia remain firmly separated.
San Sebastiano al Vesuvio: a historical-artistic itinerary and a memory of Gaetano Filangieri
A reliable version regarding the proverb is reported in the book entitled "San Sebastiano al Vesuvio: a historical-artistic itinerary and a memory of Gaetano Filangieri".
Conclusions
Pollena Trocchia is a municipality rich in history and cultural heritage. The symbols and religious architectures of the town tell an ancient story, and its beauty is an attraction for tourists who want to discover Campania beyond the usual tourist destinations.
