AMENDOLEA: A JEWEL IN THE HEART OF THE GREEK AREA
Known in Calabrian Greek as "Amiddalia", which evokes the image of an almond grove, Amendolea is a fascinating hamlet of the Municipality of Condofuri, nestled in the heart of the Grecanica Area.
The village stands about 5 km from the coast, immersed in the suggestive "Amendolea Valley", dominated by the imposing Fiumara Amendolea. This river has its roots in the deep gorges of Aspromonte, winding between cliffs and slopes, creating breathtaking waterfalls and forming small lakes called "gurnali".
Origin of the Name
The term "Amendolea" has its roots in the Greek "Amygdala", which translates as "almond". Historical account
Amendolea, described as a place "between heaven and earth", is one of the most evocative places in the region. The village stands on a rock formation overlooking the river that bears its name. The history of the village is fascinating, with stories dating back to 1099, when there were disputes over the division of land between local families. Over the centuries, the castle has seen numerous changes of ownership, passing through the hands of various noble families. The first historical account of the village refers to a disagreement that arose in 1099 regarding the division of Amendolea and Bova. These lands were acquired three decades earlier by the brothers Framundo and Riccardo di Losdo, allies of Roberto and Ruggero d'Altavilla. After Framundo's death, Riccardo, now responsible for his brother's assets, hesitated to cede the fiefdom of Bova to the young Gugliemo. The latter, eager to claim what was his, successfully appealed to the monarch. As a result, Amendolea remained in the hands of Riccardo, who had to settle for a reduced territory. In those years the keep tower was built on the north side of the hill, characterized by two large windows, one of which was subsequently walled up during the expansion works in the following century. Between the 12th and mid-13th centuries, further buildings were constructed, including a large palace, where we know that Agnes of Couternay, a member of a prestigious Norman family from the Kingdom of Jerusalem, lived in the 12th century. Her nephew, Guglielmo Amendolea, had disagreements with Frederick II, who confiscated his properties, which were returned only in 1268 thanks to Charles of Anjou. The notoriety of the Amendolea family was highlighted in 1326, when Giovanni Amendolea, husband of a Ruffo heir, was seen in Florence alongside Charles, Duke of Calabria. With the rise of the Aragonese, the castle changed ownership, passing from the De Balzo to the Toraldo. A further change occurred in 1459, when Ferrante of Aragon sanctioned Antonello Amendolea for his loyalty to the Angevins, assigning his lands to Berengario Maldà de Cadorna. In that period, in Naples, Coletta, son of Antonello and court poet of Alfonso of Aragon, made his name. Despite her fame, Coletta never managed to regain the family castle, which in 1495 passed to Bernardino Abenavoli del Franco and subsequently to other families, ending up in the hands of the Ruffo di Bagnara in 1624. The latter kept it until 1794, the year in which the castle ceased to be a residence.
AMENDOLEA: EXPLORE THE HISTORICAL HEART
Inside the modern church of the Annunziata, recently adorned by master iconographers with representations of the Life of Mary, there is a delicate Madonna and Child in white marble, inspired by Michelangelo's famous Pietà . This work was commissioned by an artist influenced by Montorsoli for the church of S. Maria della Gurda, at the request of the bishop of Bova, Giovanni Camerota (1592-1620). The tabernacle comes from the cathedral, placed on the left wall, which reflects Renaissance styles, dating back to the time in which Gagini created the Annunziata of Bagaladi in 1504. From a later period is the wooden statue of San Sebastiano, created by local masters after the building of the church dedicated to the saint, on the initiative of the bishop of Bova, Bernardino Aragona (1646-1669).
A visit to the ancient center and the Amendolea Castle is unmissable.
The defensive structure includes a chapel-tower from the Norman period, which inside has a small church with an apse, oriented with the entrance facing south, following the Byzantine tradition, and masonry seats. These, together with a cistern, are among the oldest elements of the building.
A larger cistern dates back to between the 11th and 12th centuries. The perimeter walls and a second tower which protects a refined palatine chapel are from the same period.
In subsequent eras, the castle underwent several changes, including the addition of refined spaces to the main tower, such as an imposing fireplace erected between the 13th and 14th centuries. The earthquake of 1783 caused serious structural damage, leading to the abandonment of many parts of the castle.
The historic center is accessible via a steep path that leads to a square, from which you can observe the remains of the apse of the Church of Santa Caterina, near a cemetery without distinctive signs. Continuing, interrupted by the main road, there is the church of San Sebastiano, with its distinctive pointed bell tower, typical of the local architectural style. Not far away, a dirt road leads to the church of San Nicola, where you can admire frescoes of saints in pure Byzantine style. The origins of the castrum remain shrouded in mystery, but it is believed to date back to the Byzantine era.
At the end of the village, now characterized by the remains of old houses, there is the church of the Annunziata, oriented according to eastern liturgical traditions.
History:Amendolea, a fascinating town, does not take its name from the nearby stream as many might assume. In reality, the name derives from the Amendolea family, who became owners of these lands during the 11th century.
The roots of Amendolea are shrouded in mystery. Some believe that the town was born before the construction of the nearby Norman castle. Some scholars believe that the Amendolea river is actually the ancient Alex river, which once separated Reggio from Locri Epizefiri. This theory suggests that Amendolea could have much older origins, as some ancient findings suggest. The history of Amendolea is closely linked to its castle, about which we have some information, in particular after the Ruffo family became owners of it in 1624.
In the 12th century, the geographical position of Amendolea gave it an important political and military role. Until 1806, Condofuri was considered a dependency of Amendolea. Through marriages and alliances, the property of Amendolea passed between various noble hands, including the del Balzos, the Abenavolo del Francos and the Martiranos, before being acquired by the Ruffos in 1624. This family maintained control until 1806, when the it was feudal.
Although the Ruffos were the owners, they never lived on site. They entrusted the management of the fiefdom to trusted representatives. This management was not always peaceful, and there were moments of tension between the representatives and the local population, particularly during the period after 1640.
Despite its political importance, Amendolea was not particularly prosperous. The rugged geography, lack of infrastructure and limited resources confined the economy to pastoralism and agriculture. As time passed, the economic situation became more difficult. An example of this is the decision of the mayor of Amendolea in 1801 to prohibit the sale of oak groves, as the acorns were essential to the community's livelihood.
The old center of Amendolea suffered serious damage due to the 1908 earthquake and was subsequently abandoned after the 1956 floods.
The town was then rebuilt as a small rural village at the foot of the imposing fortress. However, in the following years, many residents left Amendolea to move to cities such as Reggio Calabria and Condofuri due to economic and practical challenges.