Aiello Calabro the way emigrants see this beautiful town

History of Aiello Calabro

The signs of history in this small but picturesque village of Calabria are clearly visible. The origins (though some said was the mythical Tilesio, Greek city) date back to the Romans (the name Agellus, small field, which involves the current name is a clear testimony). Located in a strategic place, for control of routes of communication (a deviation of consular Annia passed precisely from here), Aiello was during the centuries the centre of bitter power struggles. The Saracens of the nearby Emirate of Amantea, as the legend tells, in an attempt to do so capitulate "starvation", were persuaded to desist from the genius of aiellesi to demonstrate that you have enough stocks, the walls of the castle launched the cheese pizzas obtained from milk of their women. The Normans in 1065, led by Robert Guiscard the besieged for four months, the first to have it made. The importance of this strip of land "… big, noble, et civilian" is demonstrated during various historical events. With the Aragonese, the feud aiellese, Sersale was assigned to the viceroy of Calabria and Count of Ajello, Francesco Siscar. This period for Aiello is very flourishing and there is significant expansion demographic, social and economic Viceregno continues with the Spanish in which grows agriculture and the production of silk. In 1566 the feud aiellese is purchased for 38 thousand ducats by the Prince of Massa, Alberico Cybo Malaspina. With this family of origins Ligurian Tuscan, who maintained ownership until feud all'eversione of feudality, the "rule of Aiello" moves from county to marquisate and then duchy in 1605. In this period must be some of the most valuable architectural artistic and historical Old Town: the palace Cybo and homonym chapel. But the castle, "one of the first strongholds of the kingdom", as he define Leandro Alberti in 1525-6, which was chosen as homeless by Francis Knight Cybo, where organized a rich library with rare works. In the decade French town passes in the jurisdiction of the canton of Belmonte, and then in government Rogliano until 1811, when it becomes the capital of Circondario (including Terrati, Serra, Lake, Laghitello, Pietramala and Savuto). After there was: the Restoration Bourbon, then that Garibaldi joined Italy, Brigantaggio, and the earthquake of 1905 that destroyed much of the town. In 1864 took the name of Aiello di Calabria that changed then in 1928 in Aiello Calabro, incorporating Cleto and Serra, who became the first autonomous municipalities in 1934, the second in 1937.

Famous people
Among the illustrious sons of this country there are, among others, as navigators Angelo Manetti (participates in shipments of Vasco Da Gama and Christopher Columbus), poets (Francesco della Valle, late 1500, early 1600), sculptors (Peter Barbalonga, fine 1500, early 1600), painters (Raphael Aloisio, 1800), writers (Constantine Arlia, 1829-1915)), notaries national fame (John Solimena, 1869-1944), etc..

Tatiana Lepore, actress Italo-German daughter of parents of the Contrada Cannavali.

STORY OF AIELLO - "BETWEEN Normanni and SVEVI"

The Greeks and Romans lived certainly the site, and the Saracens probably drove it, and the Byzantines fought them. But we must await the arrival of the Normans (1059-1193) to find the documentation.
In the "Chronicle" of Malaterre is reported that in 1065 Robert Guiscard, who had won, along with his brother Roger, the South of Italy and Sicily, had to lay siege for four months the castle Ajello, losing even Roger, son of Scolland , and his nephew Gilbert, who was buried in St. Eufemia, until that Ajellesi not determined to bring about peace.
Norman still a document of 1070 confirms the existence of the road that led to the east, and for Lacum Grimaldo, to join with the Roman consular, and west to the mouth of the river Olivo, passing through the city. There is also the attachment that the duke had Roberto Ajello, and to substitute for the land, which went to pray, and where he gave instructions, lands, and funding for the reconstruction of the church of S. Filippo.Chiesa later, after the aggregation of the diocese to that of Tropea, made by Count Roger in 1094, was donated in 1098, as income, to the Monastery of St. Angelo in Mileto, although 'it was built by Roger. These donations, along with those of the fruits of other churches in the territory of the hamlets in the Ajello - whose names, however, give rise to some doubt: S. lppolito dì ValIigrata, S. Lorenzo di Promentiis, S. Maria de jumpers Luthi (? Liberti interprets Lacho) - are confirmed later (1151 and 1411, with a profit of 3 ounces). And 'course, however, that Ajello was at the center of the measures taken by the Normans in favor of religious institutions, with the consequence of bringing together and vivify the social and economic life and to break the isolation of the Calabrian people already forced to take refuge in places inaccessible to escape the raids of the Saracens. E 'in this period that the city exceeded its role as a strategic hub to become a center of great importance in the development socialeIl big step in this direction, however, with the Swabians. The family, of German origin, of Hohenstaufen, first and foremost the charismatic figure of the brilliant Emperor Frederick there (1194-1250) made their mark in their dominion over the South lasted for over seventy years. There he set at last to the concept of modern secular state, characterized by freedom and culture. Thanks to the constitutions Frederick, municipalities, and many become significant social strata first negletti begin to hear some well-being. No wonder, then, that Ajello has been deployed with the Swabians, suffering, their fall, the fierce retaliation of angiomas (1266-1442). The documents remind us that the count was in 1221, and castellano of Ajello, in addition to Rende, Richard, brother of the Archbishop of Salerno.
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