The origins of the village of Rivello date back to the early Middle Ages. However, numerous are the archaeological finds that designate Rivello the heir of the Lucan city - already existing since the pre-Roman period - of Sirinos.
Note is the division, starting in the Middle Ages, of the city into two distinct districts, the upper one, whose inhabitants, called bardàvis, were linked to the Latin rite church (San Nicola di Bari) and the lower one, whose inhabitants , bardàsci, were supporters of the Greek rite parish (Santa Maria del Poggio).
The monument of greater merit is certainly the convent of Sant'Antonio, placed in the lower part of the inhabited area, far from the center. The Church of Santa Maria del Poggio, spectacularly raised as a fortress on the top of the hill "Poggio".
Between the more traditional activities and renowned there are those craft, linked to the peasant culture and pastoral.
These activities that far from disappearing are instead flourishing again, and they are distinguished for the processing of copper, iron, as well as the art of ceramics and majolica.
History
Resist still in the toponymy "Fonte dei Lombardi" and "Piazza dei Greci", references to the two opposing ethnic groups, who gave life to the city: Lombards, stanziatisi certainly as a result of the barbarian invasions, and Greeks, probably originating, following its destruction by the Saracens, from nearby Velia from which it says the name derives modern (Rivello i.e. Re-Velia). Indeed, the motto of the common recitation even today "Iterum Velia renovata Revellum" (Once Velia, renewed in Rivello). Another likely etymological origin of the name, must be sought in a formation of the iterative type "King Vallare" i.e. fortify again, from which a late Latin Revallo.
The fief of Sanseverino, Ravaschiero and Pinelli, Rivello you ransomed, in the course of the XVIII century, becoming a free city (University). The XVIII century it was the most flourishing, so much so that there was a strong immigration which led to a considerable increase in population, as testified by the ecclesiastical archives. Unfortunately the arrival of the French caused a decline, due to the uncertainty of the historical moment. After the Congress of Vienna and the reastaurazione of Bourbon regime, there were signs of recovery; but fate was now marked: With the arrival of the Piedmontese, after the expedition of the Thousand and then the constitution of the Kingdom of Italy, the political choices of the first governments, the phenomenon of brigandage, misery and the lack of work, forced hundreds of Rivellesi, as well as throughout the center - South, to emigrate to the Americas, in search of a better fate.
After the Second World War, returned the emigration, this time in the direction of the North of Italy, in particular toward Lombardy, but also for Germany, Switzerland, France and Belgium. This phenomenon was very marked between the end of the fifties and the mid-seventies.
Village of Rivello
Municipality of Rivello
Province of Potenza
Basilicata Region
Population: 2.746 rivellesi
Altitude centre: 479 m s.l.m.
the Municipality is part of:
Unione Lucana del Lagonegrese
Protected natural areas:
Lucanian Apennines, Val d'Agri and Lagonregrese National Park
Municipality
Viale Monastero 48 - Tel. +39 0973 46004
BY CAR
ON THE TRAIN
BY PLANE
the gastronomic Specialities of Rivello invokes the best peasant tradition, made of poor ingredients, simple but genuine, exquisitely prepared. Today some of the dishes are increasinglyù researched and prepared more on special occasions and festivities. Among the typical dishes are:
Over the traditions already mentioned there are at least four other: