Trecchina
Trècchina: a municipality in Basilicata surrounded by nature
Trècchina is an Italian municipality in the province of Potenza, located inland from the Tyrrhenian coast in the region of Basilicata. The town is situated on a plateau surrounded by deciduous wooded mountains, and its climate is alpine with cold winters and cool summers. The territory is crossed by the Noce river, and from its highest point, Mount Coccovello, it is possible to admire the Aeolian Islands and part of the Cosenza Tyrrhenian coastline.
The origin of Trècchina's name
The origin of Trècchina's name is still uncertain, and there are many theories about it. According to popular etymology, the name derives from the term "tre chine," or the three peaks that overlook the plateau where the town is located. However, upon close inspection, there are actually four peaks: Maiorino, Serra Pollino bipartite at the top, and Crivo. Other historians hypothesize that the name may derive from Latin and mean "place of shrubs and gullies," or that it is a corruption of the name "Terenziana."
The history of Trècchina
Archaeological evidence in the territory of Trècchina is scarce and fragmentary. Historians who have focused on its origin have presented conflicting theories. Some argue that the town was founded from a Roman settlement called "Terenziana," a name that later became corrupted to its current form. Others believe that the town was founded by ancient Greeks who lived near Thermopylae and later wanted to inhabit lands that resembled their native ones, calling it "Trecchina." Over the centuries, Trècchina was a Visigoth and then Lombard stronghold. After being destroyed by the Saracens, it was rebuilt by the Lombards of Salerno. Between the 11th and 12th centuries, it was affected by migratory currents of heretic groups from Piedmont, especially from Monferrato, who left an indelible mark on the local dialect. During the feudal regimes, Trècchina belonged to Lauria, under the Sanseverino family, and Tortora, under the Vitale family. In the 16th century, the castle of Trècchina was donated to Count Michele Rizzo de Ricci di Castellammare di Stabia by the feudal lord Roberto Sanseverino, Prince of Salerno.
Trècchina is a town that perfectly combines natural beauty with the history and culture of the territory.
