Castelmezzano
| Castelmezzano | |
|---|---|
| Comune | |
| Comune di Castelmezzano | |
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 Castelmezzano
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| Coordinates: 40°31′50.13″N 16°2′47.47″E / 40.5305917°N 16.0465194°ECoordinates: 40°31′50.13″N 16°2′47.47″E / 40.5305917°N 16.0465194°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Basilicata |
| Province / Metropolitan city | Potenza (PZ) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 33 km2 (13 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 970 |
| • Density | 29/km2 (76/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 85010 |
| Dialing code | 0971 |
| Website | Official website |
Castelmezzano is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Albano di Lucania, Anzi, Laurenzana, Pietrapertosa, Trivigno.
It is part of the club The most beautiful villages in Italy. In 2007 Castelmezzano was included by Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine among "The best places you've never heard of".
The origins of Castelmezzano date to approximately between the 6th and 5th centuries BC, when Greek settlers got into the valley of Basento and founded a town called Maudoro, meaning roughly the world of gold. In the 10th century AD, the Saracen invasions forced the local population to find a new location. It is said that during the exodus, a pastor called Paolino discovered a place to move, formed by rocks from the steep peaks which could repel the invaders by means of rolling stone boulders on to the invaders.
After occupation by the Lombards, the Normans settled there between the 11th and 13th century AD and built a castle (the remains of which the walls and tier of rocks allowed access to the higher lookout point are still visible). It was from the name of the castle (Castrum Medianum, roughly means Castle in the Middle) that the town derived it name, the castle so named because of its position between those of Pietrapertosa and Albano di Lucania. With the Normans, Castelmezzano experienced a period of peace and development, until the Angevins experienced a sharp decline. In 1310, the municipality was entrusted to the Diocese of Potenza (PZ) and in 1324 to that of Acerenza.
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Wikipedia