It was founded around Middle Ages (XII century). The town was
founded as a rural community in the plain, divided in two groups
of houses: San Pietro and Torre.
Torre is called also “Borgo Palazzo” because there
are some noble palaces.
Santa Maria del Piano Church is very interesting, it was built
in 1530. A legend tells that a statue of Our Lady was found on
a hornbeam tree and in that place the church and a monastery were
built.
The feast dedicated to the Patron, Saint Peter the Apostle, is
very interesting: there is the event called “la fontana del
latte e del vino” ("the milk and wine fountain").
Milk and wine with water pour out from a fountain made of wood.
The statue of the Saint stops in front of the fountain for ten
minutes and the procession starts again. In the past this was a
propitiatory ritual, to bless the products of the land, since agriculture
and rearing were the most important activities.
HISTORY
Paolo Eterni, a historian from San Rufo lived in XVII century,
wrote that Torre and San Pietro had been founded by Counts of
Cajano, belonging to the Norman family of Altavilla, in XII century.In 1541 San Pietro became autonomous from Diano.
This territory was ruled by many families, for example Sanseverino, Villano and Capecelatro.
FOLKLORE AND EVENTS
• Saint Joseph Feast. On the eve of the feast, the 18th March, there is an ancient ritual: in the various districts big bonfires are lit, they are called “focarazzi”, around them people have a good time drinking wine and eating roasted potatoes (19th March)
• Madonna del SS. Rosario di Pompei Feast (May)
• Saint Anthony of Padua Feast (13th June)
• The feast dedicated to the Patron, Saint Peter the Apostle, is very interesting: there is the event called “la fontana del latte e del vino” ("the milk and wine fountain"). Milk and wine with water pour out from a fountain made of wood. The statue of the Saint stops in front of the fountain for ten minutes and the procession starts again. In the past this was a propitiatory ritual, to bless the products of the land, since agriculture and rearing were the most important activities (29th June)
• Santa Maria del Piano Feast with a fair. In the evening, as a tradition, children are blessed by Our Lady (15th August)
• The Holy Crucifix Feast. This tradition started in 1912: the procession called of “Guglia”. A painting portraying the Crucifix is put in a wood shrine, having the form of a Latin cross. Inside the shrine there are some lamps that highlight the painting with their light (September)
• The feast of the mills (August)
• Anchovies festival (July)
• Beer and roast sucking pig festival (July)
• R…Estate con noi, summer events
MONUMENTS AND NATURAL BEAUTIES
• Località Difesa, a course near Setone stream, with falls, remains of ancient mills and a Turkey oak wood
• Località “Canali” with basins and an inscription made in 1850
• Costa Masturso, a mountain road with fountains
• San Pietro Apostolo Church, with the main altar made in marble and a wood chorus in the apse
• Santa Maria del Piano Church is very interesting, it was built in 1530. A legend tells that a statue of Our Lady was found on a hornbeam tree and in that place the church and a monastery were built
• San Vito Chapel with a small side chapel dedicated to Our Lady
• San Giovanni Battista Chapel in Baroque style
• San Giuseppe Chapel built in 1726, as an incision on the portal indicates
• Madonna del Rosario di Pompei Chapel, with a marble altar
• SS. Crocifisso Chapel with a circular apse
• Palazzo Iannelli, Spinelli, Accetta and Miele
Testi: Stefania Maffeo
