Serramezzana
Let's discover the Municipality of Serramezzana
If you come to visit the Municipality of Serramezzana, do not expect a chaotic and busy city. Instead, you will find yourself immersed in nature, surrounded by the green hills and the tranquillity of a small town in the province of Salerno in Campania.
Physical geography
Territory
Located about 520 meters above sea level, Serramezzana is in a hilly area about ten kilometers from the Cilento Coast. Don't worry about earthquakes, as it is part of the zone 3 (low seismicity).
Climate
The climate is pleasant all year round here. In fact, the average temperature of the coldest month, January, is +8.7 °C and that of the hottest month, August, is +25.7 °C.
Origins of the name
The name of this place is a bit mysterious and is traced back to the words "serra" and "medianus," meaning hilly or mountainous backbone in the middle.
History
Traces of the first settlement date back to 1073, but the name Serramezzana was only used from 1254.
In the centuries that followed, the territory passed from one noble family to another until the abolition of feudalism.
Monuments and places of interest
Civil architecture
If you are a fan of architecture, you cannot miss a visit to Palazzo Materazzi, dating back to 1694. There is also a water mill of San Nicola and a beautiful aqueduct.
Religious architecture
There are many interesting churches, including the cemetery church of San Nicola, the Church of San Filippo, the Church of San Pietro, the Church of San Teodoro, the Chapel of San Leonardo, and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Society
Ethnic and foreign minorities
Serramezzana is a very small municipality, but there are also some people from other countries here. In 2007, 7 foreign citizens were registered as residents.
Religion
The majority of the population is Christian and mainly belongs to the Catholic Church. The municipality is part of the diocese of Vallo della Lucania.
Culture
Cinema
Serramezzana can boast of having served as a backdrop for the film "Il sorriso dell'ultima notte." Produced by Halcyon Production and directed by Ruggero Cappuccio, the film tells a story set during the Second World War. Among the cast are Ciro Damiano, Chiara Muti, Giovanni Esposito, Gea Martire, Claudio Di Palma, Nadia Baldi, Paola Greco, Silvia Santagata, Anna Contieri, and Franca Abategiovanni.
Anthropological geography
Villages
Serramezzana is composed of two villages: Capograssi and San Teodoro Cilento. Capograssi, located about 255 meters on the provincial road from Cosentini to Serramezzana, has 69 inhabitants. San Teodoro Cilento, located about 190 meters on the same road, has 70 inhabitants. They are small but very characteristic villages.
Serramezzana is a small but very interesting municipality, especially for those who want to escape the stress and frenzy of the city and enjoy some nature and history. Come and visit us!
