San Rufo is between two mountains: Spina dell’Ausino and
Cucuzzo delle Puglie. Between the mountains there is a path that
links Vallo di Diano with Valle del Calore Salernitano. The town
is at the feet of the mountains covered by vineyards and olive
trees sloping down towards the valley of Tanagro.
The territory is interesting for its archaeology: unfortunately
only a little part of the artistic patrimony remains; there are
some beautiful palaces of 1600 and 1700 with stone portals and
the ruins of an ancient castle. In this territory there are many
natural caves, used as refuges in the past. There are some sepulchral
inscriptions of Classical period.
In San Rufo there is a sporting centre, Centro Sportivo Meridionale,
one of the most developed and best equipped of Southern Italy.
Madonna della Tempa feast is very nice: there is a procession with
the typical “Cinti di cera” (wax girdles), finely decorated.
HISTORY
In Campanella, San Marzano and Casalvetere, finds of Roman Age were discovered.
The origins of San Rufo are not certain and many scholars think it was founded in XIII century by Gubello Pellegrino, who founded it to honour San Rufo III, bishop of Capua.
Other scholars think that the town was founded at the end of XI century by farmers and shepherds from Teggiano, which were looking for new lands.
The town belonged to Diano and was a feud of Pellegrino family until 1600, and then it was ruled by Rinaldi and Laviano families.
In 1700 the town became famous for the production of music instruments.
Paolo Eterni, a famous historian, was born in San Rufo in XVII century.
FOLKLORE AND EVENTS
• Madonna della Tempa feast is very nice: there is a procession with the typical “Cinti di cera” (wax girdles), finely decorated
• Expo Sud, a fair (July)
• “Città Vallo di Diano”, an international tournament (May)
• The chestnut festival (October)
• Estate a San Rufo, summer events in San Rufo
MONUMENTS AND NATURAL BEAUTIES
• Località Calvanello, where there are the charming ruins of a Middle Ages castle destroyed XV century
• Santa Maria Maggiore or dell’Assunta Church
• Sant’Antonio Church
• San Michele Arcangelo Church
• San Rocco Chapel
• Madonna della Tempa Chapel
• A baronial palace
• San Giuseppe shrines
Testi: Stefania Maffeo
