Spinoso
Spinoso, a charming town in Basilicata
Spinoso is an Italian municipality, located in the province of Potenza, in Basilicata. About 1347 people live in the town, which is situated on a hill at the foot of Mount Raparo, on the south bank of Lake Pietra del Pertusillo.
Physical geography
The territory of Spinoso is very charming, with many natural elements of great interest. The town is surrounded by unspoiled nature, offering breathtaking views and numerous opportunities to discover local fauna and flora.
Origins of the name
The name Spinoso comes from the Latin Spina, meaning thorn or spine, and the suffix -osus, which is usually used to indicate abundance. Therefore, etymologically, the name indicates a place full of thorns. In the Catalogus baronum, the municipality is indicated as Spinosa, meaning "land full of thorns."
History
According to legend, the town, formerly called Carro Nuovo, was located in Tempagnata, but due to the presence of many dangerous snakes that even devoured children, the inhabitants were forced to move. This is how Spinoso was born.
Later, the Jewish diaspora brought new settlers to this small village. The Jews settled in the abandoned Carro Nuovo and soon understood the reason for the abandonment. Not far from Carro Nuovo, there was a small hill called Lo Spenuso, now called San Laverio, which was much more accessible and had fewer snakes, but above all was close to the properties in Tempagnata. And it was here that the new inhabitants settled, giving life to Spinoso.
The golden period of Spinoso was during the construction of the Pertusillo dam, which brought new inhabitants and jobs into the small Lucanian village.
Municipality symbols
The coat of arms and flag of Spinoso were granted by decree of the President of the Republic on September 8, 1983. The coat of arms can be blazoned as a vertical equilateral triangle cut by a horizontal band.
The flag, on the other hand, is a white and green divided flag.
Monuments and places of interest
Spinoso boasts numerous churches, chapels, and palaces of great architectural interest.
Among the churches are:
- Mother Church of Santa Maria Assunta
- San Rocco del Popolo Church
- San Rocco dei Nobili Church
The most important chapels are:
- Chapel of Maria SS. of Novi Velia
- Chapel of San Michele
- Chapel of Santa Maria Maddalena
- Chapel of Maria SS. of Termini, located on the border with the Sarconese territory.
Among the most important palaces are:
- Palazzo delle Colonne, Piazza Plebiscito
- Palazzo Ducatelli, Via Garibaldi
- Palazzo Falotico, Via Garibaldi
- Palazzo Caputo, Via Garibaldi
- Palazzo Romano, Via G. B. Romano
- Palazzo Baronile-Minutolo, Via Marconi
- Palazzo Ranone, Via Vittorio Emanuele
- Palazzo Franco, Via G.B. Romano
- Palazzo Delfino, Via Marconi
- Palazzo Pesce, Via G. B. Romano
- Palazzo Magliocchini, Via E. Pimentel
- Palazzuolo Romano, Via Garibaldi.
Traditions and folklore
One of the most important festivals in Spinoso is dedicated to Santa Maria dei Termini, which is celebrated every year on August 15th. During this celebration, the town comes to life with lights, sounds, and colors to pay homage to the Saint.
Famous in cinema
Spinoso is not only a historic and fascinating town but also the protagonist of a very important film. The film in question is Basilicata coast to coast, shot largely in the surrounding areas of Spinoso.
In conclusion, Spinoso is a small town that is definitely worth a visit for its natural beauty, monuments, and traditions. The town offers the possibility to immerse oneself in the history of Basilicata and discover the charm of a culture that, while ancient, continues to spread its treasures.
