OUR TOWN: PLATACI

Plataci is located at an altitude of 950 meters above sea level and surface area of ​​50.38 km ². The inhabitants are ethnic arbëreshë, and still preserve the ancient language, customs and traditional Greek-Byzantine rite.
Plataci is an agricultural center of the eastern group of Pollino, overlooking the plain of Sybaris and the Ionian Sea. In ancient it was a village of  Cerchiara municipality(Plattici and Plataci); the name may be derived from "Platania" (Plataci forest). The Albanian refugees would settle around 1476 in the existing Cerchiara farmhouse that probably was abandoned during the earthquake of 1456.

 It is part of the Italo-Albanian communities and the Eparchy of Lungro.
From August 5 to 21 there are various traditional and cultural events: lighting of bonfires, the ecological excursion day  to  Sparviere Mountain with a height of 1713 meters, painting, sculpture and antiquities, local artists. Interestingly, the recovery of the traditional wedding procession to the sound of the bagpipe or organ with the dressing of the traditional Albanian gala costumes  by relatives or friends of the bride. Very interesting, in fact, is the arbëresh traditional costume, worn by women. Special mention deserves the feast of Our Lady of Constantinople or dell'Odigitria, which is celebrated in Spring, on Tuesday after Pentecost and the first Tuesday in November, very much felt among the population for meanings not only religious but also social and propitious. On June 24 we celebrate St. John the Baptist, patron saint of the country. Striking is the feast of San Rocco, with great participation of the citizenry. Cultural activity is active, interesting is the Festival of the Little Singers Arbëreshë (Festivalin the Këngëtarëvet të vegjël Arbëreshë), where they perform traditional Albanians songs.

The Typical Alabnian dress of Plataci

The female costume platacese, like every other element dell'ingente and precious cultural heritage of Albania, has great significance in itself a socio-anthropological, is an important identification with their folk tradition and reinforces a strong link with the Diaspora. It also manages to magically make the wearer stand out in so many aspects that contribute to grasp charm, pride, elegance and a touch of vanity which characterize the multifaceted personality of the Oriental woman, who loves to become a subject of admiration. Significant is the time of dressing that provides an interesting and complex ritual, since needs of many preparations which enliven the occasion.
This ceremony, once, was accompanied by songs, many of which were wedding, for weddings by friends and relatives who helped her to get dressed, because the woman until the end of last century was combined with the Albanian dress.
The custom of marriage consisted of a tiara with ribbon or red ribbon to the last used during the war, with a veil covering the whole face of the bride: both were worn on the head. Sometimes they used the characteristic fringed scarf. The bodice is made with a fine damask fabric and worked with threads of gold ornaments or naturalistic reliefs of gold, with gold bands on the back of a gallon. For special occasions they were also made of velvet fabric, plain or embroidered with fanciful ornaments, whose colors varied, as in today's costumes, from light purple to dark purple, from light blue to dark. Even the sleeves were decorated and cuffs trimmed with gold gallon more. The white linen shirt, trimmed with lace that, most of all, embellished wedding gown, continues to accompany the other day costume, still worn by a few of the old town, which consists of a white handkerchief, from bodice and a skirt of cotton or linen with wrinkles

OUR TOWN :AMENDOLARA



The name Amendolara probably derives from the Latin amygdalaria (mandorla!), because of the elevated production of almonds.according to the numerous archaelogical discoveries found in the area, it is thought that the territory was already inhabited in the neolitic period (6000-4000 BC) and that the human presence becomes stable in the protostoric age (3500-8000 BC) when a community of Enotri settled in the area called today "Rione Vecchio". With the foundation of Sybaris  by  the Acheans, most part of the population that was living in the protostoric village of Rione Vecchio in VII sec. BC  moved  to the bright and vast promontory of S.Nicola. In this area rose the Magno-greca city of Lagaria , that later became Amendolara.

A legend narrates that Epeo, the famous builder of the Horse of Troy, after the destruction of the city, caught by a storm in proximity of our coasts, promised  to Athena to build a city in her honour    if he reached safe and sound the coasts of Magna Graecia. Once on the new land  Epeo built a city calling it Lagaria.

The city of the famous Lagaria had big houses and straight roads rose on this big city which at that time should had been nearer to the sea than the remains prove to be not; the walls  were built with “raw” bricks that stood on stone foundations and sustained covers made with flat bents. Furnaces and many loom counterbalances  testify the great number of jobs that were  practiced which ranged from the production of crockery  and terracotta stuff to the manufacturing of wool cloth. It has been found on 50 hectars of city ground a great range and quantity of ceramics : jugs, vases, amphoras, used for wine, oil, and to store cereals. This city disappeared with the destruction of Sybaris by Crotoniatis.

After the  Roman domination the country  had a flourishing religious life first with the Byzantine activity, then with the circestence one as it is  testified by the numerous Churches and the hermitic caves situated on most part of the territory. With the construction of the Castle, toward the year 1000 there have been a long series of dynasties started  by the Svevis,  the Angioinis, the Signoria  of  Della Marra, of Montalto, of Cognetta, of Gambacorta, of S.Felice, of S. Severino, of Caraffa, of Pignatelli from Cerchiara, of Pinion, of Castrocucco, of Loffredo, of De Nobili, of Pignatelli di Bello Sguardo  and finally of Gallerano. In  XV sec. under the rule of  Sanseverino, two illustrious writers and literates were born, Pomponio Leto, founder of the Roman   Archeological Academy and Facio Patarino. In  XVI sec. the Dominicans built the  Convent and the  watching tower “Torre Spaccata” called today by this name because it is broken .

                

For about two centuries the area witnessed the battles between vassals and Commune for the  conquest of the  land confiscated during the  feudal period. In 1700 the pieces of that land had, little by little, become real "farms" and were split between  the Municipality and the State, that  sold them to the  exponents of the most powerful bourgeois families of Amendolara of whom we can admire today the  fine buildings. During  XIX century Amendolara was the centre of diffusion of the liberal ideas, but it also suffered the  sacking of the most important works of art kept in its churches. 

OUR TOWN: VILLAPIANA

The town area extends from the hilly spurs of the Pollino facing the Sibari plain to the sea, between the streams Satanasso and Saraceno. Here, the 9 km stretch of coast is characterized by fine sand and numerous beach resorts which host a great flux of tourists every year.

The oldest part of the village, that was originally called Casalnuovo dates back to the fourteenth century, even if the numerous archaeological finds from the surrounding area prove a substantial continuity of settlement from the middle Bronze Age onwards. The village was under the jurisdiction of different feudal lords and only in 1862 it has been called by its present name. In its historic centre, one of the most suggestive of the upper Ionian coast, the ruins of the fourteenth-century castle can be admired, the churches of Santa Maria del Piano and of the Immaculate Conception, along with various noblemen's houses. In the Villapiana district, moreover, there are some monasteries and two well-preserved coastal towers.

The newest residential area, that is divided into two separate centres, the " Lido " and the "Scalo" has developed along the coast among thick pine copses. Nowadays it is a well-known seaside resort, provided with modern hotel complexes and superbly equipped for sport and entertainment.

The equipped beaches and pine woods which reach the coast invite to stop along the coastal strip, where, in the district of Torre Cerchiara, rises a sighting tower against pirates with drawbridge, recently restored. You can also walk in the woods around the area, often equipped to cook meat over charcoal. 

Tower of the castle

Of the medieval castle, called in time of the Sanseverino, of the princes Caraffa and of the Pignatelli remain still visible ruins in the heart of the town of Villapiana . It was built around 1300 by the princes Caraffa as a fortified structure together with the foundation of Casalnuovo (ancient name of Villapiana). Restored in 1500, it still preserves the remains of a cylindrical tower which dates back to XVI century, a square tower with tuff-blocks loopholes of the same period and remains of embattled walls.

On the western side of the imposing castle which used to dominate the plane of Alto Jonio, the walls lean on a cliff facing the Satanasso stream. Negligence and time have caused great damages to the structure.

Convent of Sant'Antonio

The Capuchin friars built it in 1590 outside the village. The structure has remained almost unvaried and features an arched stone portal surmounted by the coat of arms of the Pignatelli family. The interior preserves a wooden chiselled altar, with a ciborium in the centre, surmounted by a wooden crucifix of XVIII century, and the statues of the Madonna del Carmine and Sant'Antonio.

CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS:
San Francesco di Paola (Patron) - April 2
For the day dedicated to the patron saint of Villapiana are provided only religious rites.
Madonna del Piano - August 15
The festivities in honor of Our Lady of the Plan are well attended. Among the lights and colors of lights, after the celebration of Mass, a procession winds accompanying the statue of the Madonna in the main streets of the historic center. In the afternoon entertainment provided various folk and popular games. In the evening, however, are the inevitable concert of light music in the square and the spectacular fireworks.

FAIRS AND MARKETS
Fair of San Francisco - April 2
Fiera di San Vito - June 15
Animal Fair - Aug. 22
Daily markets (selling groceries)
Weekly Markets - Wednesday (Villapiana Center), Friday (Lido and Scalo)
Monthly market - the second Sunday of the month

OUR TOWN: TREBISACCE

Trebisacce is situated on the North-East coast of the Ionian sea , precisely in the Northern part of the Sybaris Plains. The word Trebisacce comes from the Byzantine language Trapezàkion “small table” and it is evident the historical reference  to the tableau where the old village was built.

In far-off times the territory , as the archeological remains testify, registers the presence of human settlements. It is of great interest the site in Broglio area where it has been dug out a protostoric village and findings which date back to the Middle Bronze Age and to the First Iron Age. In  the acropolis of Broglio it has been brought to light  one of the most ancient forge which date  back to the Bronze Age. In the Iron Age the contacts with Greece and the Phoenicians ,started at the end of the Bronze Age and stopped at the Final Bronze Age, resume  more and more intensely : fragments of painted cups and a scarab have  been found on the last pavement of the ditch. Similar evidence come from the acropolis of Terra Mordillo e Francavilla Marittima.

The territory is characterized by a coastal strip, terraces and hills.

The town consists of two parts: the old one commonly called “ Paese” ( historical centre) and castled on a plateau; the lower one , known as “ Marina” is, instead, situated along the coast line.

The old village is surrounded by walls erected in the XVI century to defend the place by Saracens’ raids. Once the rampart, called by local people  "Bastione”, had four entrance doors: St. Leonard, The Annunciation, St. Martin, and St. Anthony. It has been defined “the balcony of the Alto Ionio”, in fact  from here you can enjoy an extraordinary panorama.

In 1576 the town suffered one of the cruellest Turks'attacks (10.000 Turks). The  town made up of only 500 people, although inferior in number  fought bravely  for three days succeeding in driving away the invaders; the troops sent by the prince of Bisignano got there only towards the end of the battle.

The church of St. Nicholas of Myra  is of a great historical interest. It was erected in the Byzantine period in 1040 and later, it was restored in  baroque style with the typical bent tiles set in circles around the dome and the Basilian bell tower  of the XII century with its distinctive internal pendenctives.

 The new part of the town, the “Marina”, consists of a few country residences of the early Marina of Trebisacce built around 1900.

THE ECONOMY

Citrus trees have always been at the base of local economy and the oranges produced here are still  exported all over Italy. The type of orange grown here is called “il biondo” ( the blonde) which differs from other kinds because it is available when the others are not any more in season that is its maturing time is in late Spring and it is also a very juicy orange. Citrus orchards ( oranges and lemons) are the main resource in agriculture sector. They are found in the “vigne” (vineyards) an area comprised between the bank of Saraceno stream, the motorway 106 Jonica , the Paese of Trebisacce and Marzuca district. The term “ vigna” is still used because prior to the cultivation of citrus trees , grapevine was grown. The vigna owners were called “vignaruoli”.

There are a great number of agri-farms which use this citrus fruit to put on the market first quality preserved fruit. But there  are also olive groves since olive oil is the base condiment of our diet. There are many oil mills that produce good quality olive oil which is destined also to foreign markets.

Another line of business is fishing. Every day motor trawlers and fishing boats sail  to come back in the evening with the catch of fish. The fish market of Trebisacce is a reference point for all fishermen of the Ionian coast line.

Our Town : Albidona

I, Michele, and my cousins ​​Giuseppe, Michele and Francesco are all students of Class 2 I and come from Albidona a mountain village at 800 meters above sea level with 1500 inhabitants. There are only elementary and middle schools, a post office and a bank. To attend a secondary school we have to go to Trebisacce: vocational and technical , grammar schools are all there. If we want to go to  University we go to Cosenza (Calabria), Rome, Bologna, Milan . Most of university students become  engineers, doctors, lawyers to get a  good future job.

As for the the history of our hometown, it is said it was founded by a group of refugees that  after returning from the Trojan War, landed on the coast of Calabria. The origins of Albidona are linked to the ancient city of Magna Graecia Leutarnia since it is said it was  built on the ruins of the legendary Leutarnia.

The patron saint is St. Archangel Michael celebrated on 8th May.
In ancient times the celebrations took place on September 29th, the usual day for the Catholic Church dedicated to the three Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael .. The feast of the patron saint attracts every year many immigrants, who come back to hometown just to take part to the celebrations in honor of Saint Michael.

In the morning there is the Eucharistic celebration, followed by the first part of the procession, accompanied by music from local musicians or band, with bagpipes and women in traditional costume carrying the "loins" (suggestive measures for agricultural containers decorated with floral tributes, or candles). In this first part of the parade procession some men who take turns, will carry the huge wooden statue of San Micheael, perhaps dating from the eighteenth-century Mother Church to the new neighborhood (Piano mare), stopping at Piazza S. Rocco.

In the early afternoon  the procession resume stopping finally at the small square in front of the vestibule of the Church in the late afternoon. Here we held the traditional "magic", an auction of local products, animals or artifacts dedicated to the saint offered by some devotees, the money will be used to pay the music concerts and fireworks at night.

Albidona economy was mainly  based on agriculture in the past, today many people are in the North of Italy working as well as abroad in Germany, Swiss, England, Belgium. It is a small town where people make good salami and cheese.
Here people have their piece of land to make wheat for bread , some olive trees to make olive oil, and a piece of land to make good wine and of course to raise cattle and pigs. Old people say that if you have wheat, oil, and a pig you have the house filled with everything and you will not have food problems. It is a poor municipality and people want to keep their products and produce them like it has always been. We say that you don't waste anything of the pig because everything is good . We make excellent cured prosciutto and also bacon and we have a particular salami called soppressata.

As you can see from the picture the typical products are salami, wine, dried red peppers to fry with olives and bacon,  sweet fried rolled dough made at Xmas and Easter, and a small accordion called organetto. People from Albidona like to gather and play music and sing old folk songs and while they play they also take breaks to drink a glass of wine and eat a piece of bread with salami, cheese, and have fun. Every social or personal event is a good chance to start playing folk music and start

dancing tarantella! We all love that! 

                                                          

This small picture shows some men in a garage having fun, drinking, eating and plaing tarantella, even without women.

The final form of the Phrase Booklet

The National Sovereignty And Children's Day!

Hello There! 

This Monday (or today) is our National Sovereignty And Children's Day. Our great leader and the Founder Of The Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk; gave a present for children from all over the world. He was an awesome leader. And we owe everything to him. On 23 April, 1920 he opened The Grand National Assembly of Turkey. He truly loved children. Not just in Turkey. Even our enemies children... In every 23 April, we celebrate this day, we visit Atatürk's Mausoleum and a child becomes a prime minister for one day :) Children read poems about Atatürk, we decorate our classes, school. Here is some pictures and videos about National Sovereignty And Children's Day:

It is our national dance. It's called "Zeybek"

Here are some children while they were celebrating 23 April

   Atatürk and his adopted daughter "Ülkü"

  

Even The Google celebrates it with us :)                                         

                                                                               
In a celebration...

I think it is our symbol because 23 April isn't for children in Turkey. It is for CHILDREN IN ALL OVER THE WORLD

Here is a regional dance from Turkey :)

And here is some information about 23 April and celebrations :)

You can find a booklet prepared by Ali Baran Taşdemir for 23 April
www.tasdemir.us/alibaran

And Elif Doğanay's Poem


A GIFT TO ALL CHILDREN

There was once a leader

Who was a republic founder

Erased all the enemies

Now we live freely in our cities

Today’s children

You will be the country’s future

Technology will come with a green nature

Happiness of the nation

Is now on your hands after Atatürk’s foundation

Resolutions will come by you

Democracy will be true

Offenders will decrease

Freedom will be released

Admire the leader who understood the importance of you

People with bad plans will stay without a clue

Respectable founder will rest in peace


In the times we have lots of scientists

Liberty he brought will be optimist


And Atatürk's Life by Bircem Ataselim


Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was born in Salonica (now in Greece) in 1881.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey.He was a division commander during the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915 and was instrumental in preventing the partition of Anatolia and Eastern Thrace through his political and military leadership in the Turkish War of Independence. Ataturk then instituted reforms in the political, economic and cultural aspects of life in Turkey, which led to the creation of a democratic secular nation-state guided by educational and scientific progress.Atatürk is internationally known as an outstanding statesman, soldier, commander, reformer, and nation-builder who introduced many reforms with the aim of founding a new secular democratic and modern republic after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

-He emerged as a military hero at the Dardanelles-Gallipoli in 1915.
-He became the leader of the Turkish national liberation struggle in 1919.
-Mustafa Kemal opens the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara in April 23, 1920.
-Mustafa Kemal was elected President of the Grand National Assembly in April 24, 1920.
-Foundation of People's Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, CHP) in August 9 1923.
-Ankara becomes capital of Turkey in October 9, 1923.
-Proclamation of the Turkish Republic, with Mustafa Kemal as President in October 29, 1923.
-Foundation of Turkish Historical Society in April 15, 1931.
-Foundation of Turkish Linguistic Society in July 12, 1932.
-Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Turkish Republic in October 29, 1933.
-The death of Mustafa Kemal “Ataturk,” the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and founder of modern-day Turkey in November 10, 1938.

\\\ Happy is he who says, "I am a Turk" ///

We are walking on your way our great leader...
1881-193∞