San Chirico Raparo

Appennino Lucano Val d'Agri Lagonegrese / Municipalities

According to some sources, there was a human presence here in pre-Christian times, linked to the ancient centre of Polisandra (sixth to fifth centuries BC), formed by early inhabitants who came from Metapontum or from Heraclea.

The most definite sources trace its origins to a community of Basilian monks settled at the
abbazia di Sant'Angelo (abbey of St. Angelo) or
San Michele (St. Michael) on the slopes of Monte Raparo.

In the centuries following the Middle Ages the village belonged to the Balvano, the Chiaromonte, the Sanseverino, and lastly to the Spinelli and Pignatelli, who held it until the abolition of feudalism in 1806.

In the early decades of the nineteenth century, the town was very active in the spreading of the liberal ways of thought (thanks to the efforts of Magaldi) that led to the fall of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the emergence of a united Italy. The name derives from San Quirico of Konya (St. Cyriacus of Iconium), a martyr much revered by the community of monks settled here.

Today, a few kilometres from the town, below the famous
abbazia di Sant'Angelo (abbey of St. Angelo), is an ancient
cave which, according to myth, was inhabited between 980 and 986 by St. Vitalis, a monk practising Greek rites who was later to establish the
convent of San Michele Arcangelo (St. Michael the Archangel).

Deeper in the cave you can still admire an image on the rock wall depicting
St. Michael and a person at prayer, some gigantic stalactites and stalagmites, a number of monk's cells carved into the rock, and natural pools for collecting water where pilgrims immersed themselves during healing rituals. A short walk from the abbey the
Trigella spring rises, a landmark and potent symbol of pride of those living here, and part of a truly natural and historic journey through the world of the Basilian monks (via Catacombe).

On a hill at 800m stands the ancient
castle of which now only a monumental rock remains. In front one can still see a watch tower (the
torre di San Vito (tower of St. Vitus), with its square base, built between the sixteenth and eighteenth century), which overlooks the entire valley through which the Racanello stream flows.

At the foot of the castle hill is the old town, comprising a string of houses, access ramps and a number of noble homes with stone portals. Among these are the
Palazzo Barletta, which houses, in its richly decorated rooms, period furniture and tapestries, and the
Palazzo Simonetti.

The various religious buildings are also very unique.

In the highest part of the settlement is the
mother church dedicated to Sts. Peter and Paul, built over the structure of the previous church at the end of the 700s, with the help of 8,000 ducats donated by Ferdinand I of Bourbon. It was completed in 1854 by the
Germino architects of Naples. The façade is of late baroque and neoclassical style, while the Latin-cross interior has three naves. In it can admire polychrome marble altars and highly decorated wooden niches. On the main altar a fourteenth century wooden crucifix, originally from the
abbazia di Sant'Angelo (abbey of St. Angelo)
at Raparo is prominent, while in the side-naves are wooden statues of Santa Sinforosa (St. Symphorosa) (patron saint of the town), Our Lady Enthroned (wooden sculpture, fifteenth century) and Our Lady with Child (sixteenth century, Neapolitan school).

The most valuable work is the altarpiece, which overlooks the apse. Made in 1531 by Simone da Firenze, it comes from the
abbazia di Sant'Angelo (abbey of St. Angelo) at Raparo. The two middle panels depict the
Nativity
and the archangel Michael, the two tableaux on the left are dedicated to St. Donatus and St. Gregory, and the two tableaux on the right represent
St. Lucy and St. Benedict. Below one can see a large altar-step with
Salvator Mundi and the Apostles.

Worth visiting also is the eighteenth-century
church of Sant'Anna (church of St. Anne), which houses an eighteenth century organ, an altar with decorative insets, a group of sculptures of
Mary Immaculate with Angels and a wooden statue of St. Philomena, dating from the eighteenth century.

The
chiesa di Santa Maria (church of St. Mary), a former Dominican convent, is not to be missed. It contains two frescoes attributed to the circle of
Giovanni Todisco of Abriola, depicting
Christ on the Cross with Madonna and Child and St. Catherine, dating from 1550, and
Our Lady and Child Enthroned, from 1548. Above a wooden altar, with a richly decorated tabernacle and in wooden frame in the Baroque style, is a painting of
Our Lady of the Rosary, with fifteen panels depicting scenes from the
life of Jesus.

The village, rich in art and traditions, offers many ways to experience nature thanks to the enchanting scenery provided by the majestic Monte Raparo.

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

Castelsaraceno

8.2 Km

Mountain Peaks

22.63 Km

Trekking nel Parco Appennino Lucano Val d'Agri Lagonegrese

37.61 Km

See also

San Martino D'Agri

4.79 Km

Carbone

6.65 Km

Castelsaraceno

8.2 Km

Gallicchio

11.33 Km

Armento

11.73 Km

Spinoso

12.05 Km

Montemurro

13.26 Km

Sarconi

16.7 Km