Sapri
Welcome to Sapri, a jewel of Campania
Hello! Are you ready to discover one of the most beautiful towns in Campania? Allow us to introduce you to Sapri – an enchanted place located on the Tyrrhenian coast, in the Gulf of Policastro. Here, we will tell you a bit about the history and geography of this wonderful city.
Physical Geography
Territory
Sapri is a town located in the south of the province of Salerno, just a few kilometers from the border with Basilicata. It is situated in a small plain that overlooks the splendid bay of Policastro, located within the Gulf. The landscape is surrounded by the mountains of the southern Apennines, making the view truly unique and picturesque.
Sapri has a seismic classification in zone 2, meaning that seismic activity is moderate and was decreed by an ordinance of the PCM in 2003.
History
The city of Sapri has ancient origins and is considered the heart of the Gulf of Policastro. Since the Roman era, the area and its bay have been of great importance. Cicero referred to it as the "little gem of the Southern sea". Today, we can still find remains of Roman buildings near La Specola, on the road to Vibonati.
From 1811 to 1860, Sapri was part of the administrative subdivision of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies## Circondari di Vibonati, belonging to the district of Sala in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. From 1860 to 1924, during the Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946), Sapri was part of the district of Vibonati. In 1924, the district was transferred to Sapri until its suppression in 1927 belonging to the Sala Consilina district.
During World War I, in November 1917, the 16th FBA Section of Sapri received 3 FBA Type H, and in August 1918, became the 277th Squadron, which remained until April 1, 1919.
The Expedition of Sapri
Sapri is mostly known for the Expedition of Carlo Pisacane on June 28, 1857, which is remembered in the famous poem "La spigolatrice di Sapri" by Luigi Mercantini. Pisacane's expedition, organized in Genoa by himself, Mazzini, and other patriots, was meant to, according to Mazzini's plan, spark the anti-Bourbon revolution in Naples and Salerno in the struggle for Italian unification.
The expedition failed, like contemporaneous actions in Genoa and Livorno, also because Neapolitans and Salernitans were not adequately prepared for immediate action. Nonetheless, Pisacane's expedition helped to prevent the hypothetical establishment of a Muratian Kingdom in southern Italy and opened the way for the Expedition of the Thousand. The tragic mission is commemorated by an obelisk erected on the first centenary, located in Largo dei Trecento, a statue of Pisacane in the municipal park, and a bronze depiction of the "Spigolatrice" at the foot of the Scialandro.
Conclusions
And there you have it, dear readers – a short review of the wonderful city of Sapri: it is definitely worth visiting, and it is a shame that there is not much information or tourism agencies promoting it. Nonetheless, this charming place is undoubtedly an ideal destination for those who love the sea, history, and Italian culture.
