HISTORY

Typical mountain town, Agerola boasts an ancient history. The findings of artifacts such as amphorae, oil lamps, vases and coins belonging to the first Caesars of Rome, as well as tombs, hovels, tunnels and roads, confirms the theory that this village was already known to the antcient Romans, Byzantines and Lombards. The name Agerola derives, almost certainly, from “ager”, Latin for field. In fact, to its origins, the first inhabitants plowed small fields in the dense forests that covered the entire territory, obtaining, in this way, a small area on which the urban center was developed over the centuries. Currently the village still has this feature with the territory divided in several small fields obtained by a “terraces” placement of the mountain slopes. In the Middle Ages Agerola, with its five villages, it was part of the territory of the Republic of Amalfi that expanded from Ravello to Positano and, with its vast woodlands, restocked of lumber the arsenals of the Republic for shipbuilding.

In Amalfi, there is a monument in memory of Flavio Gioia, pride of the city and inventor “of the sailor’s compass” in 1302. But, for some historians, Flavio Gioia was only a legendary figure that combined nautical and entrepreneurial skills to the glorious Maritime Republic of Amalfi, abruptly declined after the devastating tsunami of 1343 that completely destroyed the port and never more rebuilt. As part of the territory of Amalfi, Agerola shared the historical events with it and between these the wars against the Saracens. At that time Agerola maintained a commercial exchanges with Naples, especially for the silk fabrics for which manufacturing the “agerolesi” were specialized. Was in the year 1068 that ended The Amalfitan Duchy (the Republic of Amalfi), due to the inability and weakness of its government that fell under the infuence of the Normans.
In May 1198 Federico II of Svevia ascended the throne of Sicily, but given his young age he was placed under the guardianship of Pope Innocent III. The autonomy was given to the country with the accession of the House of Anjou, when in Agerola there were the first people elected by the population to whom Robert of Anjou will grant, in 1339, in part, the rights to the administration.
In 1381 the duke Charles of Durazzo, who lived at the court of Joan II, Queen of Naples, took possession of the kingdom.
In 1423 Joan II came in disagreement with Colonna so she sent to the Duchy the Marshal of the Kingdom, Petracone Caracciolo, to take over the government in her name. After the death of Joan II, which took place on February 2 1435 after twenty years of reign, the heir to the throne of the kingdom was Alfonso Of Aragon, the Magnanimous. On November 10, 1436 Agerola raised the symbols of the Aragonese Empire, while other cities of the former Duchy sided with the House of Anjou. Piccolomini died in 1493, and his son Alfonso, who married Joan of Aragon, took the succession. We have now reached the end of the Aragonese domination, which lasted fifty-nine years; the end was marked in 1503, when Spanish conquered the Kingdom of Naples.
It is said that in 1600 the mountains of Agerola were full of banditis, who, in the thick woods, found a safe hiding place. In the centuries that followed, the City of Agerola became part of the Kingdom of Naples, which followed the ups and downs until the unification of Italy. In the eighteenth century Agerola lived a very prosperous period, also evidenced by the exponential growth in the number of inhabitants. Thanks to the Borbonic reforms, there was an improvement in the economic conditions and with the reduction of taxation the brigandage disappeared almost completely. The ideas that inspired the French revolution were accepted by the well-educated people from Agerola who lived in Naples, so that Agerola was the first country in the province to join to the democratic constitution of the Neapolitan Republic. After the Restoration of 1815, the Patriots could not speak freely because they would be arrested. They met secretly and also in Agerola were created the Secret societies and the most important was the Carboneria. The Carbonari wanted to achieve liberal statutes and reforms from the Absolute governments: they were organizes into sections, called “sales”, and they had a Master. The admission was regulated by a ritual full of symbols: oath, passwords, signs, etc. The dominant figure in the last Borbonic period was General Avitabile, who in 1844 achieved the division of Agerola from the Province of Salerno in order to join to the one of Naples: the city was then separated from the territory of Amalfi, with whom it had shared centuries of history, and was linked solely for the religious jurisdiction (Catholic). In March 1862 the first City Council was elect.
Agerola has a very rich past, in addition to the natural beauty; it offers to the visitors an artistic and architectonic heritage of great interest. Nearby the Confraternity of SS. Sacramento, in the village of San Lazzaro, you can see, just to name a few, a wooden statue of the sixteenth century representing the Madonna of the Roses, while in the Church of St. Peter the Apostle, in the village of Pianillo, is displayed a silver crucifix of the fifteenth century. It should also be noted, that this last Church is the only one of the five medieval churches that existed in the village. Particularly interesting is, also, the Church of Santa Maria La Manna. The Church, which dates back to 1400, guards a statue of the “Madonna in manna” which is said to have been transported from the East during the iconoclastic persecution. Remaining within the artistic and architectural treasures of religious inspiration, we find: the Church of S. Matthew the Apostle, located in the village of Bomerano, where is displayed a wooden crucifix and a reliquary bust of silver of St. Matthew which dates back from the eighteenth century, while on the vault there is a remarkable painting of 1632 by the Sicialian painter Michele Regolia; the Sanctuary of Maria SS. del Rosario, in the village of Bomerano, site known as “Tutti i Santi” (All Saints), where you can admire an altar piece depicting the Madonna with Saints and a statue belived to be miraculous; the Church of St. Martin, (village of Campora) was built to preserve the remains of General Avitabile where you can admire its marble tomb.
Last but not least, we highly recommend the Castello Lauritano, a site of great architectural importance, located in the San Lazzaro’s village. There are the ramains of a fortress and is accessible through a paved road surrounded by a chestnut coppice. From the open spaces in front of the castle you can enjoy one of the most beautiful view of the Amalfi Cost, to the Gulf of Salerno (Lattari Mountains). The peculiarity of the castle is a structural type: in fact, it is built with limestone and mortar, such as the supporting walls of the terraces on mountain slopes.
During the year numerous events are organized in Agerola, both folkloristic and religious, which reveal a desire to keep intact a cultural heritage that goes back centuries. Among the many events, the most significant, according to the number of visitors attracted each year, are: the Processione of the Holy Week, which takes palce in Bomerano and San Lazzaro during Easter; the Festival of the Fior di Latte, which takes places in Pianillo the first Sunday of August; the local handicraft exibition, an appointment in the village of Campora during February-March.
The flora and the fauna found in the territory of Agerola are typical of the upland surrounding areas. The entire area is covered with thick vegetation, consisting mostly from coppice mixed with essence of broad-leaved tree (chestnut, alder, walnut, etc). Regarding the flora, it should be noted that there was a significant increase in population of the wild boar, reproduced in abundanceas a result of a restocking operated from local hunting associations. In addition to the wild boar, there are also many foxes and hedgehogs.
Regarding the natural beauties of Agerola, the most significant part of this heritage is represented by the Park Colonia Montana. Located in the village of San Lazzaro, the Park is owned by the Regione Campania and covers an ares of 1.5 hectares. The area belonged to General Avitabile (first half of the nineteenth century) that he used to ride when returning from the war. Initially the size of the area was larger but is now deprived of the zone formetly used as stables, currently home to a camping. In fascist era it was enriched with a central building thats was used for summe camps for young people. In San Lazzaro the poet Salvatore di Giacomo, found inspiration for the famous poem “Moon of Agerola”. The green area is wooded with not native tree species. Larger but of equal beauty, is the Parco Corona. Situated in the village of Bomerano, the Park goes along the main road to Amalfi. Owened by the Institute of support of the clergy of the Diocese of Amalfi, it is a chestnut coppice and covers approximately 3.5 hectares. Being maintained by the Mountain Community, it is fully accessible by the public. At last, we point out the location Bolvito-Casa Cavaliere-Grottelle-Fiobano. This is, again, coppice mixed with essence of broad-leaved tree (chestnut, alder, walnut, etc) and covers approximately an area of 25 hectares. You can reach the site from Via Radicosa. The Mountain Community of the Sorrento Peninsula ensures maintenance, which is located in Agerola (village San Lazzaro).