Teora

Infobox CityIT
official_name = Comune di Teora
img_coa =
img_coa_small =


image_caption =
region = RegioneIT|sigla=CAM
province = ProvinciaIT (short form)|sigla=AV (AV)
mayor =
mayor_party =
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 660
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 23
population_footnotes =
population_as_of =
population_total = 1571
pop_density_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = 68
coordinates = coord|40|51|0|N|15|15|0|E|region:IT_type:city(1571)
gentilic = Teoresi
telephone = 0827
postalcode = 83056
frazioni =
saint = Saint Nicolas
day = 6 December
mapx = #expr:40 + 51 / 60.0
mapy = #expr:15 + 15 / 60.0
locator_position =
native_name = Teora
name = Teora
website = http://www.comune.teora.av.it/

Teora is a small town in the province of Avellino, in the Campania region of southern Italy.

Geography

Teora is bordered by the towns of Caposele, Conza della Campania, Lioni and Morra De Sanctis.

History

The origin of the village was recorded by the Greek historian Dionisio of Alicarnasso (I century B.C.) and by the Italian historian Marco Terenzio Varrone. It began as an agricultural and military centre, and was named after the Teora family, which founded it upon their arrival in Italy (Magna Grecia) from Greece at XIV B.C.

It was also reported that the "tribuno della plebe" Milone died there during the civil war between Caesar and Pompey in the Roman era. In a Privilegio of 1200, granted by Pope Innocenzo III to Pantaleone, archbishop of Conza, Teora referred to using the name "Tugurium Biarium" for the first time.

Filippo was lord of Teora in 1332, and its domain was acquired by the Earl Giacomo Arcuccio in 1376. Subsequently, it passed on to the Gesualdo Family and from 1676 to 1806, Teora belonged to the Mirelli Princes.

Three earthquakes have occurred in Teora, in 1694, 1732, and 1980 respectively; the last earthquake destroyed much of the village's historical and cultural identity. Twenty-five years after that last earthquake, Teora was awarded the "Gold medal to the civil merit".

Culture

Weddings

Weddings in Teora follow a centuries-old tradition in which the groom serenades his bride in the evening preceding the wedding. Accompanied by local singers, the groom will usually stand under the balcony of her bedroom, awaiting the bride's response to his love. After a few minutes, the bride is expected to switch on the light and go out onto the balcony, in sign of her positive response. The evening usually continues with music and songs in the bride's house.

Festival of Serenades

Every year in the first half of August, the "Festival of Serenades" takes place, where five Teorese girls stand on five geranium decorated balconies, each waiting for her loved one. While some professional "menestrelli" play their love songs, each man climbs a rope ladder to reach his lady and bring her a red rose. A timid and chaste kiss is the prize for the serenata. Rumour has it that men take advantage of the event to make real wedding proposals to their counterparts.

Monuments

Fountain of Monte

The fountain, also called the "fountain of the dead men", has origins that go back to the 12th century, when the Church of Conza was designated by Pope Callisto II as a necropolis. The fountain was completely reconstructed over the centuries, today it is a simple-structured building.

Church of Saint Nicholas

The precise date of building of the church is not known since all documents were lost in a fire in 1690. The church has probably been many reconstructed many times, and the present structure, with its 16th century appearance, was completed in the 20th century. The church was destroyed four times from earthquakes in 1604, 1694, 1732 and 1980 respectively. Today, only the skeleton of the greater altar and the ancient columns' stone bases remain of the majestic structure. The new church, rebuilt after the 1980 earthquake , includes pieces obtained from the destroyed church and the "Congregation di Morti", also destroyed by the earthquake of 1980.

Corona flour mill

The Corona flour mill is situated at the edge of the historical centre of the village. The precise age of the building is unknown, and the activity of the flour mill ended about 50 years ago. The earthquake of November 1980 destroyed the central part of the mill.

Fountain (public washhouse) of Piano

Situated to the west of the area, the rectangular fountain is subdivided in three zones with pillars. The water flows out of five stone masks and into three bathtubs leaning on the wall. Public washhouses are situated at the rear of the monument.

tone of the civil weddings

Congrega public square was named after the Congrega little church. At one time there was a tree in the small piaza on was a stone table on which were written public documents as part of the civil ritual of the wedding. It is unknown in which time the civil ritual of the wedding came to be celebrated in public and on this public square. The table is constituted from two stone pillars with on a thick slab 20 cm.

Festivals and events

The town's patron is Saint Nicholas, who is remembered on August 13 and on December 6.

quaqqualacchiun'

This is a typical masque related to the day of Saint Anthony, January 17, on which the first day of the carnival is held. This event is featured in the "Museum of Popular Traditions" at Caserta.

Pizza of Saint Martin

Potato pie generally eaten on November 11, (day of Saint Martin). According to the tradition, a little coin is hidden in the pie: the one who finds it in his or her portion, has the right to decide the menu of the party that takes place on November 21 (calle "Cummit").

Notes and references