In collaboration with Pro Loco Tarsia

Francesco Sannuto, President

Edited by Aurelio Scarola

Translation by FidelioTarsia

Town of Tarsia, County of Cosenza: Altitude 208 m. above sea level. Inhabitants about 3,000. Distance from nearby main cities in km.: from Cosenza Km. 42 (26.6 miles); Catanzaro: Km. 132 (80.5 miles); Naples: Km. 280 (171 miles); Rome: Km. 490 (299 miles); Ionian Sea Coast: Km. 25 (15 miles); Tirrenean Sea Coast: Km. 35 (21 miles).

City Police (Guardie Civiche): Area Code (0981) 952015; City Hall: 952015; State Police (Carabinieri): 953005; Post Office: 952053; Pro Loco Information Office: IAT 952034; Hospital Emergency: 952741; Drug Store: 95-20-79; Library (on Earth environment ) : 952185; San Marco Argentano Hospital: (0984) 5101.

HOW TO REACH TARSIA:

By Automobile: Highway A3 (Salerno-R.C.) off ramp Tarsia, 5 km (3 miles) on country road. By Train (FF.SS). State Railroad) Tarsia station (only on local run trains Cosenza Sibari); By plane: Lamezia Terme Airstrip Km. 90 (55 miles) form Tarsia; Private Bus Company: Service from and to any point in Italy; Country Bus Service: from and to Cosenza and Cosenza Country.

By Simona Celiberti and Francesco Sannuto

Edited by Tarsia is City Hall and Pro Loco

The present Tarsia, of ancient origins, which overlooks the valley between the Crati and the Esaro rivers from its 208 meters high still conserves its strategic Middle Ages characteristics, typical of the Norman Times. With the beginning of the Feudalism, because of its strategic position, Tarsia became a County (one of five in the whole of Calabria). The land was under the control of the San Severinos, Princes of Bisignano until year 1606, when it was acquired by the Marquis of Ciro', Vespasiano Cirelli, who upgraded the town to principality. The Norman castle, of which, now, only ruins remain, witnessed important historical events, like the arrival of Carlo d'Angio' in Calabria.

In the present locality of "Le Caselle", there was the ancient Caprasya, (which several scholars erroneously identify as Tarsia) where remains of a roman re-supplying post on the Via Consolare Popilia have been found. Also, a bronze statue of Hhracles and a relief of the VI Century BC. were uncovered (City museum of Crotone).

Near Camigliano one can admire the ruins of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Mary, built in year 1065, by Ruggiero the Norman on a pre-existing Roman villa.

Francesco Sannuto, scrupulous historian, has furnished me with these history details on Tarsia. Again, history testifies that even such a minuscule center like Tarsia can conserve so many cultural and historic pages.

As far as the name is concerned, according to Barrio, Fiore and other writers, Tarsia is the ancient Caprasya, Caprisia, or Caprese. However, for this Internet site those three names have nothing to share with today is Tarsia.

Scorza has determined that the town was located in the locality of Caselle. To reinforce his theory, he believes, is the fact that in Caselle the remains of an intermediary re-supplying post for travelers from and to Rome have been found with enormous containers for storing food supply and the like. Nor could Popelia Road pass by a different route. In reality, the present Tarsia that overlooks the large Crati river valley, also facing the Sila spurs shows Middle Ages strategic characteristics.

Normans were masters in choosing such strategic sites, which they immediately fortified with castles and towers. Therefore, it is logical that Tarsia must have been built in that span of time. In fact, Ferrante Della Marra, duke of Guardia, says that "ancient and very noble is Tarsia", and adds that the Tarsia is family built it in Normans' times.

TARSIA (CS), village of Cosenza County, an old Norman agglomerate of houses grouped on a hill top dominating the plane on both sides of the Crati River.

Its original name was either Taurasia or Caprasia, subsequently changed to Tarsia, the present name, in homage to the Tarsia is family, who became its feudal lords. Other historians argue that it was the Tarsia family to found the town, during the Norman is time and named it after them. Their heirs held the town until 1806.

Tarsia is a town where illustrious men lived. To name a few, Galeazzo di Tarsia, Marco Aurelio Severino, and Francesco Vivacqua. Furthermore, there, the Ferramonti Concentration Camp for civilian prisoners of war was built during 1942 and it was the largest war prisoners camp in Italy with more than 2000 detainees.

The town, from its hilltop overlooks the artificial lake below, which is used for irrigating the plane of Sibari

The Church of San Peter and Paul, built in the town, is an historical, artistic and archeological treasure.

M.A. Severino is Price, in March. Live representation of Christ is Passion in the Holy Week. Celebrations in memory of the internees of Ferramonti camp e the patron saint feast (San Francis of Paola)

However Tarsia was already famous since year 1460. That is when a saint, holding on his cane, after two years of material and spiritual labor, left Corigliano, crossing orange groves, and covering part of the Crati Valley, stopped at a short distance from Tarsia and spent the night in a straw hut. This saint was San Francis of Paola.

The town inhabitants did not forget that place, nor they forgot the Saint. Grateful for his arrival, they built a church in his honor. Now, during San Francis Feast, this church is site of pilgrimage and a procession through the streets of Tarsia, displaying the statue of the saint.

In Middle Ages time, with the beginning of the Feudalism, the town statute was elevated to county: one of the only five in the whole of Calabria. This was justified by the fact chat Tarsia had an excellent strategic geographic position.

During the XIII Century the town lost one half of its inhabitants caused by the catastrophic Black Plague, so much so that in the year 1443 its number went to as few as 670 citizens. During the next century, the number of inhabitants grew considerably. Already in the year 1532, the town is people were around one thousand.

The whole county was under the control of the Sanseverino Family, Princes of Bisignano until the year 1606, and year in which it was acquired by Vespasiano Spinelli, marquis of Ciro' and Cariati and held by his descendants until 1806. Consequently, the Spinelli family upgraded the county to a Principality.

The Norman castle, now in ruins, witnessed important historical events, as the arrival in Calabria of Carlo D'Angio' and his Court. Various are the illustrious personalities born in Tarsia. Marco Aurelio Severino (1580-1656), scientist, philosopher and famous doctor, known all over Europe, shines among them. No less famous were Francesco Vivacqua (1790-1851) member of the Parliament of Naples in 1821 and Luigi Focaracci (1812-1871), poet, jurist and President of Cosenza Academy, who wrote numerous legal thesis and founded the present Cosenza city library.

Transalation by FidelioTarsia.

The Town of Tarsia (3000 inhabitants) is situated on top of a hill at 208 m (835ft) a.s.l. Its distance from Cosenza is 42 km. (25.6 mi.) and 135 km. (82.3 mi.) from Reggio Calabria. The main communication routes that cross the area are: the State highway # 19; ancient road that was originally built by Gioacchino Murat, during the napoleonic domination, which ties Salerno to Reggio di Calabria. A parallel modern highway A3 makes the trip more comfortable and in reduced time. To reach Tarsia, there are two convenient highway off-ramps: the Tarsia off ramp and the Sibari-Spezzano Terme off ramp. Two important rivers run adjacent to Tarsia: the Esaro (sacred to the ancient Sibari) and the Crati, the longest river in Calabria. Tarsia industry is mainly craftsmanship and agricultural. The latter produces cereals, tomatoes, citrus fruit, grape and olive oil. Famous is the production of the very fine extra virgin olive oil and the well-known Esaro wines.