Craco
| Craco | |
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| Comune | |
| Comune di Craco | |
The old town of Craco
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 Craco
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| Coordinates: 40°22′43.16″N 16°26′25.25″E / 40.3786556°N 16.4403472°ECoordinates: 40°22′43.16″N 16°26′25.25″E / 40.3786556°N 16.4403472°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Basilicata |
| Province / Metropolitan city | Matera (MT) |
| Frazioni | Craco Peschiera |
| Area | |
| • Total | 76 km2 (29 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 391 m (1,283 ft) |
| Population (December 2008) | |
| • Total | 773 |
| • Density | 10/km2 (26/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Crachesi |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 75010 |
| Dialing code | 0835 |
| Patron saint | San Nicola |
| Website | Official website |
Craco is a ghost town and comune in the Province of Matera, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata.
The old town was abandoned due to natural disasters. The abandonment has made Craco a tourist attraction and a popular filming location. In 2010, Craco has been included in the watch list of the World Monuments Fund.
Craco is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) inland from the Gulf of Taranto at the instep of the “boot” of Italy. It is typical of the hill towns of the region with mildly undulating shapes and the lands surrounding it sown with wheat. The town was built on a very steep summit for defensive reasons, giving it a stark and striking appearance and distinguishing it from the surrounding land, which is characterized by soft shapes.
The centre, built on the highest side of the town, faces a ridge which runs steeply to the southwest, where newer buildings exist. The town sits atop a 400-metre (1,300 ft) cliff that overlooks the Cavone River valley. Throughout the area are many vegetation-less mounds called (badlands) formed by intensive erosion.
Around 540 BC, the area was called Montedoro and inhabited by Greeks who moved inland from the coastal town of Metaponto. Tombs have been found dating from the 8th century BC, suggesting the original settlement dates back to then. The town’s name can be dated to 1060 AD, when the land was the possession of Arnaldo, Archbishop of Tricarico, who called the area Graculum, which means in Latin "little plowed field". This long association of the Church with the town had a great influence on the inhabitants.
From 1154 to 1168, the control of the village passed to the nobleman Eberto, probably of Norman origin, who established the first feudal control over the town. Then in 1179, Roberto of Pietrapertosa became the landlord of Craco. Under Frederick II, Craco was an important military center and the Castle Tower became a prison.
In 1276, a university was established in town. During the 13th century, Craco became feudal tenure of Muzio Sforza. The population increased from 450 (1277), to 655 (1477), to 1,718 (1532), until reaching 2,590 in 1561; and averaged 1,500 in succeeding centuries. By the 15th century, four large palazzi had developed in the town: Palazzo Maronna near the tower, Palazzo Grossi near the big church, Palazzo Carbone on the Rigirones property, and Palazzo Simonetti. During 1656, a plague struck, with hundreds dying and reducing the number of families in the town.
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Wikipedia