Fiumefreddo Bruzio

History
The first historical records of a settlement on the promontory where Fiumefreddo Bruzio is located today date back to the year 1000, in the middle of the Middle Ages, but a settlement almost certainly existed even earlier.

Flumen Frigidum (Frigid River) , this was its first name, due to a spring water that still flows today just steps from the sea. The village was built on a hilltop to easily defend itself from the violent incursions of the Barbarians and Saracens, who for centuries brought the South to its knees.

In 1054, the Normans arrived in Italy. The Pope ceded the lands of Puglia and Calabria to Robert Guiscard, and he gifted his brother Roger the fiefdom of Fiumefreddo. This was the first of a long series of bequests and transfers between feudal lords. Each lord brought and took from Fiumefreddo, and during the reigns of various rulers, the town's most important monuments were built. The castle is the symbol of the town; it was remodeled several times and almost destroyed in the early 19th century, first by Napoleon Bonaparte's brother and then by Joachim Murat.

However, the people soon grew tired of the raids and attacks and, to repel the invaders, began to organize themselves into secret communities, with the aim of responding to the abuses they had suffered.

When the unification of Italy was about to be completed, in 1860, the municipal council of Fiumefreddo decided to add the name 'Bruzio' to the original toponym, to distinguish it from the other villages of the Kingdom of Italy.

In 1975, Sicilian painter Salvatore Fiume offered his hands and his talent to breathe new life into the historic center of this Calabrian village. He created beautiful works in the castle, painted the dome of the small church of San Rocco, and in the 1990s donated two bronze statues, which were placed in the two small squares of Fiumefreddo Bruzio.

Valley Castle

Simone da Mamistra, feudal lord of Fiumefreddo between the end of the year 1000 and the beginning of the 13th century, chose a rocky spur to build his castle, on the same spot where there had been a previous Norman tower.

Over the centuries, the castle was inhabited by various noble families, until 1535, when Charles V of Habsburg donated the manor to Fernando de Alarcon, viceroy of Calabria and Marquis of Valle. In 1536, the castle underwent major renovations, with the aim of refining its appearance and adapting it to the fashions of the time. The surrounding wall, which surrounded the entire village, and the two towers, now known as Galette, were also built during this period.

The castle was inhabited until 1807, when, during the Neapolitan revolt against the French, some insurgents took refuge within its walls, resulting in the castle being bombed and partially destroyed. What remains today are the ruins of a fortress that still proudly displays the signs of its past power, but is not ashamed to also display the cannon fire it received.

In the 1970s, Sicilian painter Salvatore Fiume decorated the historic center of Fiumefreddo Bruzio, and his true masterpiece in this project was the castle's Wishing Room. This room was uncovered, and only later was its roof rebuilt. On its walls, the painter depicted his dream for Fiumefreddo. Unfortunately, time has damaged the frescoes, and a major restoration project has recently begun that will restore them to their original splendor.

Church of St. Michael the Archangel

The Church of San Michele Arcangelo is the Mother Church of Fiumefreddo Bruzio. It was built in the 16th century at the behest of the Marquis of Valle, Fernando Ruiz d'Alarcon.

In 1683, a violent earthquake damaged the building, and during subsequent renovations, the church floor was raised. Furthermore, it was decided to widen the central nave and strengthen the dome and bell tower.

The interior has a single nave and is characterized by faux marble altars. The church is rich in prestigious works of art, including a series of Neapolitan school canvases created between the 16th and 17th centuries. Among the many works, "The Madonna del Carmelo" by local painter Giuseppe Pascaletti and "The Miracle of Saint Nicholas of Bari" by Francesco Solimeni are particularly noteworthy.

Church of San Rocco

The church of San Rocco was built around the second half of the 17th century, on the ruins of an ancient coastal tower. It was built as a gesture of gratitude to the saint by those who had been spared from the plague.

The church has a hexagonal plan. In the 1970s, the dome was reinforced and later chosen for a cycle of frescoes by Salvatore Fiume. Counterclockwise across the dome, one can see Saint Roch covered in bandages, surrounded by scenes of grief, with Death behind him. In the final segment of the dome, life triumphs over death.

The scenes of the plague are taken from Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron and Alessandro Manzoni's The Betrothed, contextualized with typical elements of the landscape and the village of Fiumefreddo Bruzio.

Don Antonio Rotondo, archpriest in love with terracotta

Don Antonio Rotondo was born in Fiumefreddo Bruzio at the end of the nineteenth century, almost two centuries ago, and yet even today he is a figure who is not forgotten.

He was the archpriest of this small, hilltop community. The elders remember him as a man with a complex personality, but also a kind soul and great talent. Indeed, Don Antonio was not only a man of the church but above all a great artist, who created beautiful nativity scenes with terracotta figures. His works, however, were not well received by the Holy See, which decided to excommunicate him. Don Antonio then, with great irony, included a section of hell in his most famous nativity scene, with nuns and priests engulfed in flames.

Some of his works are still on display today at the Quirinale and the Nativity Scene Museum in Rome. His passion and art have survived to this day, thanks primarily to Attilio Spina, his disciple in the early 1900s, who passed down the secrets and techniques of clay to his son Enzo.

Enzo himself, along with his wife Anna, still runs a craft workshop today. Of all the prestigious works on display inside, the most beautiful is undoubtedly the unique nativity scene depicted in a landscape typical of the Fiumefreddo Bruzio area, with the bare rocks of the mountains and the pure nature surrounding the houses. The scenes are characteristic of a rural and pastoral village, marked by a daily tranquility that suddenly slips into the bowels of the earth, with the characters finding themselves engulfed in the red flames of demonic fire.

The details that make the scenes clear and distinct, almost real, are incredible, so much so that in this small microcosm its creator has devised a mechanism that allows the change from day to night.

Joseph Pascaletti

Giuseppe Pascaletti is the best-known local painter. He was born in Fiumefreddo Bruzio in 1699 to a wealthy family.

He trained in Naples at the painting studio of Francesco Solimena. Returning to Calabria after a few years, he nevertheless managed to secure several commissions thanks to the support of the clergy and his social rank.

His recurring themes of religious and often similar subjects have not allowed him to enjoy particular success. Very little is known about his art and biography.

He died in 1757 and was buried in the church of San Francesco da Paola, near the family chapel.

The potato omelette

The culinary symbol of Fiumefreddo Bruzio is the potato omelette, which is remarkably prepared without eggs or cheese and is therefore suitable for every type of need.

Ingredients:

• A kilo and a half of potatoes;
• 70 g of flour;
• Salt to taste;
• Dried oregano b.;
• A clove of garlic;
• Frying oil.

Preparation:

Peel and wash the potatoes, then slice them into medium-thick rounds. Once cut, loosen each slice to prevent them from sticking together. Season with salt, a pinch of oregano, and a dash of pepper, and mix. Finally, add the flour and mix again.

Heat a tablespoon or two of oil in a nonstick pan and add the potatoes, pressing them down lightly with a ladle. Place a clove of garlic in one corner and cover with a lid, cooking for ten minutes over medium heat.

Once the frittata is cooked, remove the lid and raise the heat to lightly brown the bottom. Once this is done, use a plate to flip the frittata in the pan, taking care to catch the oil, and brown the other side.

Once ready, arrange the frittata on a flat plate, wiping away any excess oil. It's best served hot. In Fiumefreddo, they recommend accompanying it with some soppressata and a glass of wine.