Marsicovetere

Appennino Lucano Val d'Agri Lagonegrese / Municipalities

At the foot of the area, in the Civita district, various excavations have brought to light remains of funerary ornaments and other artefacts from the Hellenistic period, which give an idea of how the area has been inhabited since ancient times (the “Toppo San Nicola” and “Neolitico” sites). It is likely that, from this early settlement of Roman times, the higher-altitude parts of the area were fortified (the name seems to derive from a colony of Marsians, ancient people of Marsica, an area in Abruzzo, and could also derive from the Latin Marescium, meaning a swampy area), with it becoming a military outpost of Grumentum. Various documents show that in 1188 the small village was built around a walled castle used as a residence of “lord” Bartolomeo. Over the centuries the estate passed through the hands of a number of noble families until the eighteenth century, when, following an uprising, the community of Marsicovetere became a free university. In the highest part of the area the tower of the castle and the two gates into the fortress are still visible. The entire village is characterized by narrow streets, steep stairways and portals of local stone that reflect the knowledge of the ancient master craftsmen.
On via Salita Piccininni is the Palazzo Piccininni, with an opulent portal of finely carved stone with baroque decorative elements, inside which is a cistern constructed of archaeological sculptural elements based on a hierarchy of symbols.
Other buildings (Palazzo Ziella, Palazzo Tranchitella) tell the history of the site.
Highly regarded is the chiesa Madre (mother-church) dedicated to Sts. Peter and Paul, in the Baroque style, with a single Latin-cross nave, and which has undergone numerous transformations and reconstructions. Inside there is a fourteenth-century wooden sculpture of a Madonna, artist unknown. The baptismal font is of stone, and the on the rear wall is an oil painting of St. Francis, from the eighteenth century. To the right of the presbytery are the eighteenth-century polychrome wooden statues of the Assumption, also known as Madonna del Volturino (Our Lady of Volturino) and Madonna dell’Immacolata (Our a).
The altar is of inlaid polychrome marble, surmounted by a large wooden crucifix. Behind the altar are arranged eighteenth-century oil paintings of Saint Lucy with angels, a shepherd, Our Lady with Child, Our Lady of the Rosary with St. Dominic and St. Catherine and angels. The wooden choir, with engraved designs and columns on the bishop’s chair, was built in the nineteenth century.
To the left of the chancel are two statues, of St. John the Baptist and Our Lady of the Graces. The right wall is adorned by eighteenth-century wooden statues of St. Bernardine of Siena and St. Anthony. On the same wall are arranged an oil painting depicting the Madonna del Terremoto (Our Lady of the Earthquake) and a stone handbasin with bas-relief representing an angel.
Today Marsicovetere takes in the areas of Barricelle (with widespread small livestock and horticultural operations) and Villa d'Agri (more developed commercially). The latter in particular is a symbol of the great transformations that have taken place in Val D'Agri since World War II. Here we find the parrocchia di Santa Maria Addolorata (parish church of St. Mary of Sorrows) with its entrance portal from the convento di Santa Maria di Costantinopoli (convent of St Mary of Constantinople), which stood on the outskirts of the district and of which only a few ruins are now visible.
The territory of Marsicovetere is particularly suitable for active holidaymakers, thanks to the many trekking trails. From here it is also possible to reach the ski slopes of the Volturino-Viggiano ski resort area, from where one can enjoy an incredible panorama over the whole Agri Valley, losing oneself in a view reaching all the way to Monte Sirino.

References

Sources
I mille sapori del verde (The thousand flavours of green) (guida al Parco dell'Appennino Lucano) (guide to the Appennino Lucano National Park), Clementi - publisher;
Invito in Basilicata.Viaggiare in Val d’Agri (Invitation to Basilicata. Travelling in the Agri Valley) (WWF Italia Nature’s Value Project and Appennino Lucano Val d'Agri Lagonegrese National Park);
Carta del patrimonio storico architettonico e archeologico fruibile (Map of accessible architectural and archaeological heritage), Appennino Lucano Val d'Agri Lagonegrese National Park - Publisher, first edition, January 2010;
Carta dei luoghi sacri nel Parco (Map of religious sites in the Park), Appennino Lucano Val d'Agri Lagonegrese National Park - Publisher, first edition, January 2010.

Photo

Volturino Viggiano District

4.36 Km

L'Acquapark Val d’Agri (Val d’Agri Water Park)

7.13 Km

Trekking nel Parco Appennino Lucano Val d'Agri Lagonegrese

8.32 Km

See also

Paterno

7.03 Km

Tramutola

7.14 Km

Viggiano

7.71 Km

Marsico Nuovo

8.72 Km

Calvello

11.29 Km

Grumento Nova

11.71 Km

Abriola

14.53 Km

Sarconi

15.49 Km