Valsinni
Valsinni: a town in the province of Matera
Valsinni is a small town located in the province of Matera, in the Basilicata region of Italy. Currently, it has a population of around 1360 inhabitants and has been awarded the Bandiera arancione, a tourist-environmental quality label conferred by the Italian Touring Club on small inland towns.
Physical geography
Territory
Valsinni is situated on a hill that overlooks the Sinni valley, where the river Sinni flows between impressive cliffs downstream from the town. The landscape of Valsinni, characterized by the calm flow of the Sinni river, has undergone a significant change after the construction of the Monte Cotugno dam in 1985, which harnesses the waters of the river and supplies much of the province of Matera and Puglia with water. Valsinni borders the municipalities of Colobraro (7 km) to the north, Rotondella (14 km) and Nova Siri (15 km) to the east, the Calabrian municipality of Nocara (CS) (15 km) to the south, and San Giorgio Lucano (16 km) and Noepoli (PZ) (18 km) to the west. Behind the town center stands Mount Coppolo, at 890 meters above sea level, the highest point of the municipal area, on top of which there is also an important archaeological area, and it is included in the territory of the Pollino National Park. Valsinni is part of the Basso Sinni mountain community.
Climate
According to the average data for the period 1961-1990, the average temperature of the coldest month, January, is +7.4 °C, while that of the warmest month, August, is +25.2 °C. According to the Valsinni climate classification, the area falls under climate D with degree days equal to 1462.
Origins of the Name
Formerly known as Favale San Cataldo until 1873, the name of the municipality was changed to Valsinni by royal decree no. 1573 of September 14, 1873, published in the Official Gazette of the Kingdom on the following October 1. The name Valsinni derives from the ancient Roman road that crossed the city, the Via Salaria.
History
The town of Valsinni has a history dating back to the Magna Graecia era. The city of Lagaria probably stood near the current municipality of Valsinni. The town has been mentioned since the 11th century with the name of Favale and has undergone various vicissitudes and changes of ownership among various noble families, including the Sanseverino, Vivacqua di Oriolo, Capaccio, Galeota, and Morra. In 1528, the fiefdom of Gian Michele Morra, father of the poet Isabella Morra, passed under the Crown of Spain following the defeat of Francesco I of France's troops against Charles V. Morra, who supported the French king, was forced to emigrate to Paris with his son Scipione. His wife and other children, including Isabella, who was very attached to her father, remained in Favale, in the castle that still dominates the ancient part of the town. Ancient Favale was the scene of the tragic story of Isabella Morra, a young and illustrious Petrarchan poetess killed by her brothers at the age of 26 after they discovered her epistolary relationship with the Spanish poet Diego Sandoval de Castro, baron of Bollita.
Conclusion
Valsinni is a town rich in history and culture, where one can still breathe the atmosphere of Magna Graecia and the medieval period. From its privileged position on the slopes of Mount Coppolo and a few steps from the Pollino National Park, Valsinni offers interesting possibilities for lovers of mountains and unspoiled nature. Thanks to the Bandiera arancione, the municipality has been recognized as a tourist destination of great interest, where one can spend a regenerating stay.
