Sant'Arcangelo
Sant'Arcangelo: discovering the commune
Sant'Arcangelo is a commune of the province of Potenza, in Basilicata, with a population of approximately 6,000 inhabitants. The town is located 388 meters above sea level, on the hills to the right of the Agri river. The area of the commune covers a surface of 89.1 km².
History of the commune
The territory of Sant'Arcangelo dates back to the 8th century BC when the first settlements were seen. In the 3rd century BC, the Lucanians occupied the Agri valley, including the necropolis of San Brancato. In the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, a small inhabited center was found between the districts of Gavazzo, Cannone, and Mulino.
In the 7th century, Sant'Arcangelo was founded by the Lombards of the Duchy of Benevento, taking its name from the Archangel Saint Michael, their patron. Under the Normans, in 1150-1168, it appears in the "Catalogus baronum" as a fief in possession of the County of Andria, and could provide 10 militiamen.
During the Angevin rule in 1305, the Bishop of Tursi-Lagonegro protested with the king due to the attempt of the feudal lord of Sant'Arcangelo to seize the abbey of Santa Maria d'Orsoleo. The fief belonged to Nicolò Lamarra, who sold it to Beatrice Ponziaco in 1390, and then to Carlo d'Artus.
Towards the end of the 16th century, the Giocoli family moved to Sant'Arcangelo and bought important properties, adding to their titles that of Nobili di Sant'Arcangelo.
Carafa Princes and description of the castle
Under the Carafa princes, the structure of the central and peripheral offices of the various universities was modified, and the chapters were published which were nothing more than laws necessary to make the apparatus of the kingdom and the various universities work. In addition, the income in cash and in kind, which Prince Luigi Carafa IV perceived "from his states of Basilicata," including from Sant'Arcangelo, are described. The castle is mentioned for the first time, whose rent was used "to spend it on its repair."
Curiosities and monuments
Sant'Arcangelo has several curiosities and monuments. The Church of the convent of San Michele dei Frati minori riformati preserves an altarpiece frescoed with the coat of arms of the Giocoli family and a burial plaque from 1636. The coat of arms of the Giocoli family, with waves surmounted by three golden stars, also appears in an underground room of the Torre Giocoli, on a plaque, and in the local church of Sant'Anna.
Conclusions
The commune of Sant'Arcangelo is a small village with a great history dating back to the Lombard era. The presence of monuments such as the Church of the convent of San Michele dei Frati minori riformati and the Torre Giocoli, along with many historical curiosities, make the town interesting to visit. Thanks to its location on the hills of the Agri river, Sant'Arcangelo offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, which complete the beauty of this small commune of Basilicata.
