Venosa

Home of the Latin poet Quinto Orazio Flacco, Venosa is located in the Vulture-Melfese region of Basilicata.
The origin of his name is to be found in the motive of his foundation, which has been made in honor of the goddess Venus. The traces found along with the remains of a Neolithic necropolis found in Toppo d'Aguzzo in Rapolla near the Venetian territory, certify the human presence in Venosa territory since prehistoric times.
Much of these testimonies are found in Notarchiarico's "Paleolithic Park".

Rich in artistic jewels and precious architecture, they can be admired since entering the town, between the Church of the Trinity and the annexed Unfinished, sacred places strongly linked to the origin of the Norman dynasty, the nearby Archaeological Park, until it reaches in the heart of its historic center where the majestic Pirro del Balzo castle (home of the National Archaeological Museum) dominates, to then discover, just outside the city, the Jewish catacombs in proximity of the Christian ones, demonstration of the presence of a substantial Jewish community between the IV and the ninth century.
Not to be missed, then, are the cathedral of Sant'Andrea Apostolo, the prehistoric Paleolithic site of Notarchirico, one of the oldest in Europe, the so-called House of Horace, several historic buildings and fountains, such as the Angevin one, or of the Pilieri, right in front of the castle, built in 1298.

Venosa is the scene of events of varied inspiration, cultural, religious and food and wine, at any time of the year, as on the occasion of "Aglianica", which for almost two decades has been celebrating Aglianico Doc in the Vulture-Melfese area.

History

The town, probably founded by the Latin populations, was torn by the Romans to the Sannites in 291 BC. from the consul Lucio Postumio Megello, who made a Latin colony, where about 20,000 individuals moved. During the Second Punic War, in 208, the consul Marco Claudio Marcello died, attacked by Annibale during a reconnaissance. In 190 BC the foundation of Via Appia is the occasion for a strong development of the center and in the 89th c. received the title of Municipium (Roman city), obtaining the right to vote and citizenship for its inhabitants. In the 65th century AD, Quinto Orazio Flacco, one of the most illustrious poets of the ancient era, was born and lived in the town hall, and later emigrated to Rome. In 43 a.C. was subject to a new deduction from the triumphs, which expropriated the lands of the publicus, redistributing them among the veterans. With the imperial age, in the early days of the advent of Christianity (around 70 AD), Venosa became one of the first Jewish communities in Italy to integrate with the local population. A testimony to such coexistence is the hill of Maddalena, where both Semitic and Christian burials are located in its cavities. In 114 d.C. the Traiana route was opened, linking Benevento and Brindisi but that did not touch Venosa, leading to disadvantageous economic consequences for the city. With the fall of the Roman empire and the subsequent advent of the medieval era, Venosa was subjected to repeated occupations by barbarian populations from the fifth century.

In 476 the Odoacre Eruli invaded the town while the Ostrogots, in 493, turned it into an administrative, political and economic center, a title subsequently conferred on Acerenza. Between 570 and 590, the Longobards put it in a gastalded place; in 842 the city was sacked by the Saracens, who in turn were expelled from Ludwig II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The Byzantines followed, which were defeated during the battle of the Olivento River by the Normans of Arduino in 1041. During Norman rule Venosa was assigned to Drogone d'Altavilla. Also worth mentioning is the presence of the Greeks around 980 AD, witnessed by the monastery of "San Nicola di Morbano". In 1133, Venosa was plundered and given to the flames by Ruggero II of Sicily. With the coming of the Swabians, Frederick II built a castle, erected in a place where there was a Longobard Fort of the eleventh century. In 1232, Venus was born, the future emperor of Switzerland, Manfredi, son of Federico II and Bianca Lancia.

After a continuous joining of feudal lords, the city was granted a feud to the Orsini in 1453. After the Angevins, the Aragonese family of the Gesualdo family became independent, who in 1561 became Venosa's feudal lords and princes, making the city an important center of cultural, intellectual and artistic activities. It was during this time that Prince Charles, Gesualdo, was a musician among the most prestigious of his time but also among the most discussed; it is said that the composer has taken refuge in his fief by Gesualdo after murdering his wife (as well as cousin) Maria d'Avalos in Naples, for having betrayed him with Duke Andria, Fabrizio Carafa. In 1808, Venosa became the third city with more possessions of Basilicata, after Melfi and Matera, in addition to having active and passive rights in the Napoleonic National Parliament. In 1820, he had a small role in peasant domination and in carbon sequences. With the unification of Italy, in 1861, they were conquered by the brigands of Rionerese Carmine Crocco, who, after defeating the Venetian National Guard garrison, were welcomed and supported by the local population. During the occupation, Francesco Saverio Nitti, grandfather of the homonymous southernist, was killed.

Venosa, together with other villages of the Vulture, such as Genzano di Lucania, Barile, Melfi, Rionero, Acerenza, Ripacandida and Rapolla, produces Aglianico del Vulture DOC, considered one of the best Italian red wines. The vine was brought to Italy by Greek colonists and the Romans exploited it to produce Falerno wine. Venosa also hosted several editions of the Aeganica, a national wine show that promotes local produce (other municipalities where the event is held are Rionero, Barile and Melfi). Renowned & egrave; also extra virgin olive oil, also produced in other Vulture areas. Venosa has many typical dishes:

• Lagane and Ceci . Lagane is a type of hard-wheat flour-based tagliatelle gi & agrave; known in ancient Rome. They are obtained from a circular leaf, rolled on skeptics; same and cut into strips with a diameter of about one centimeter. They are made with chickpeas, olive oil, peeled tomatoes, basil, garlic, salt and pepper. - Pears seasoned with squash, li> - Homemade pasta, tongue and palate. The beefies are prepared with a sauce made up of pieces of mixed meat such as pork, veal and sausage, in addition to onion, pecorino, olive oil and salt. This sauce, which is usually prepared during large party occasions, was also said of the "mom" for the care she had devoted to cooking it since the early hours of the morning.
• U cutturidd - Sheep meat (or lamb) cut into large pieces, seasoned with small and ripe tomatoes, chili peppers, cut potatoes and onions, garlic, , parsley, olive oil and salt. All the ingredients, in addition to water, are cooked in a slow cooked terracotta pan.
• Fried Lampascioni - Small fried wild onions with olive oil and seasoned with garlic, spicy chilli and salt.
• Pizzicannelli - Dark-colored sweets, made with cocoa, cinnamon, almonds (shelled, abbrustolite and ground), grated lemon peel, and sugar.
• Raffaelli - White-colored sweets covered with icing made with egg and sugar.

BY CAR

• From the North: take the A14 motorway and exit at the Foggia junction. Take the SS 655 Bradanica, Foggia - Matera, and exit at Venosa sud. Or take the A1 highway. At the Caserta junction, merge onto the A16 Napoli - Canosa and exit at Candela. Take the SS 655 Foggia - Matera and exit at the Venosa sud junction.
• From the south: take the Salerno - Reggio Calabria motorway, exit at Sicignano and deviate for the motorway junction: Sicignano - Potenza. Merge onto the SS 658 Potenza - Melfi. Exit at the junction for Barile-Ginestra-Venosa and follow the signs.
• From Bari: follow the Naples direction on the highway to the Cerignola Ovest exit; then follow the signs for Venosa.
• From Matera: take the SP 6 towards SP 8, take the SS 655 towards SP 25 - Spinazzola, exit at Palazzo S.G. and continue for Spinazzola / Lavello / Candela / Foggia SS 168, take the S.P. 25 towards Lavello / Venosa, exit at Venosa sud / Montemilone, continue on the S.P. Ofantina direction Venosa.

BY PLANE

• Bari airport
• Naples airport