6th Annual Crachesi Del Nord America Reuni0n
Beautiful
Kaaterskill Falls, (shown below) which is on the
road to the Villa Vosilla in Tannersville, New
York is characteristic of the scenery that is
the setting for the Society's 6th Annual
Crachesi del Nord America Reunion.
This year’s Reunion is designed to have members
bring their families together and share
experiences and stories about their family
history.
The venue at Villa Vosilla provides
opportunities for all ages to find fun and
entertainment while sharing the experience. As
always at the Reunion, you’ll find good friends,
connections to people and family you never knew
about, and of course great food to share as we
meet on Friday through Sunday, July 27-29.
Start contacting your family, whether their
members or not and make your plans with them to
join the fun; and make sure to: Mark your
calendars!
Craco in the Movies
The
beauty and mystery of Craco Vecchio has been a
lure to film makers since the mid-20th century.
Besides being the backdrop for movies seeking an
ancient atmosphere (such as in King David, The
Passion, and The Nativity) the town also served
as the setting for film makers seeking a typical
Southern Italian hilltown (such as in La Lupa,
Christ Stopped at Eboli, Saving Grace, and Night
Sun). In addition several television segments
and documentaries featured the town.
Now,
a new movie is being planned that will feature
Craco. Antonello Faretta, filmaker, producer,
and chief executive officer of Noeltan Film
Studios is launching a new project, a full
length film called, “Montedoro.” Originally
started five years ago as a documentary, the
story has evolved into a drama that aims at
creating a romantic and poetical portrait of the
abandoned town.
Antonello Faretta is crafting his film as a
modern “Spoon River Anthology” using a
woman from New York seeking her natural mother
that she last saw more than 50 years ago. Once
in Craco, her journey becomes a journey into the
lost identity of Craco with its memories and
history. Faretta views this as a “sort of
mystery,” considering it, “a thriller of the
identity.”
He has recruited production assistance from
Brazil, Italy, and the US making it an
international coproduction. The other partners
include Astrolabio (Brazil), Noeltan Film
Studios (Italy) and Rattapallax (New York).
The project also received the official support
of the President of the Basilicata Region and
the Mayor of Craco. Additional Italian partners
include Bunker Lab production Italy, Commissione
Lucani all’Estero, APT Basilicata, and Craco
Production.
In addition to the actual film, a documentary
about the making of the movie will be produced
capturing all the phases of the film creation.
Plans call for the finished film to be screened
at international film festivals around the
world, with a New York premiere. Faretta is also
working to get it distributed to movie theaters
and in DVD form for home viewing.
Antonello Faretta is still looking for
financial partners and logistic support. He has
asked The Craco Society, through a letter, for
film footage and photographs from private
archives that might be used in the movie. He is
also seeking financial assistance.
The Society’s Board of Directors is supportive
of the project and is discussing ways we can
assist Antonello. We have considerable historic
photographic and film material that we can
provide along with copies of old documents.
Meanwhile,
members who are interested in contributing to
the project by providing material or becoming an
investor by financial support should contact us
at:
memberservices@thecracosociety.org
Members in the News
Society member Joe Muzio, the author of “Buddy
Remembers—Then and Now” which is a
memoir that focuses on his parents and their
Italian American influence on his life continues
to write passionately on topics of interest to
him. He also has a Hollywood connection with
his son and nephew being involved in the award
winning movie, “The Fighter.”
Joe has spoken widely, including the 2009
Reunion and also conducted writing classes to
help others create memoirs. Joe maintains an
ongoing blog that has incidental postings
called, “Musings by Muzio” about topics he finds
of interest.
Among
his articles is one titled, “Destructive
Misrepresentations of Italian- Americans,” an
issue Joe is passionate about. Joe’s writings
are available on his website at:
http://www.joemuzio.com/index.html
Craco Traditions—Engagement
Continuing the Society’s exploration of Cracotan
traditions, we look to Dino D’Angella’s work
Note Storiche sul Comune di Craco, the
history of the town, which tells us about
another folk tradition. Many of the traditions
were common to the Basilicata Region so they are
important to all Lucani. Included in the
chapter on folk traditions the following
comments inform us about engagements:
The
phases before the wedding were very important.
During this period there would be an exchange of
gifts, leading to a visit to the notary a few
days prior to the wedding to establish the
dowry.
The only opportunity for a young man to meet
with a girl was in church, at a feast, or
perhaps at a funeral. It was said that the
marriage was usually “purtatë” that is, arranged
by the parents unbeknownst to the future couple.
There was a very strict protocol that was
followed. It started with the family of the
young man sending “l’ambasciatë” or an
ambassador to the girl’s home to ask permission
for the boy’s parents to visit the house. If
accepted, the young man, along with his parents,
would visit the home of the young woman to ask
for her hand in marriage. During the engagement
it was also customary for the young man and his
friends to serenade outside the home of his
fiancée. In the first half of the twentieth
century there were a few very good accordion
players (Paulo D'Ambrosio and Cesare Copeta) who
dedicated love songs.
Parlë Crac’tan?
Proverb:
L'uocchijë du patrunë 'ngrassë u cavaddë
Lit: The eye of the owner fattens the horse
Lë uaijë de la pëgnatë le ssapë la cucchiarë
(I guai li conosce solo chi li patisce)
Lit: The troubles of the pot are known by the
ladle
Fig: Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his
shoes
Fa bbénë e scuordë e fa malë e piénzë
(Dimentica il bene che fai e non scordarti del
male)
Lit: Do good and forget about it, do something
bad and worry about it
Quannë u diavëlë t'accarezzë volë l'almë
Lit: When the devil caresses you, he wants your
soul
U sazijë non crèdë a le desciunë
(II ricco non pensa ai guai del povero)
Lit: The satiated cannot believe the hungry
Fig: Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his
shoes
Malë non fa’, paijurë non avé
Lit: If you do good, you have nothing to fear
Basilicata: Metaponto and the Ionian Coast
The spirit of Magna Graecia still prevails in
the villages and countryside of this area. First
colonized by Greeks around 700BC, the Ionian
Coast extends from Metaponto to Nova Siri. Its
secluded wide sandy beaches are bordered by pine
and eucalyptus trees, and scented Mediterranean
undergrowth and citrus fruits.
Bernalda
— positioned between the Bradano and Basento
Rivers it was a center for Lucani and Greek
settlement. Situated on panoramic hilltop, it
was rebuilt in 1496 with the original houses
making up the ancient town center. The
surrounding countryside has farms dating back to
the Swabian-Angevin Era.
Metaponto
— this ancient town dates back to pre-history.
It became a Mycenaean trading village and by
800BC was under Greek influence. The noted
mathematician Pythagoras moved his school here
in 532BC. Also visited by more notorious
individuals such as Spartacus who sacked the
town, it began a decline. By 1167 it was renamed
Torre di Mare and only in the 18th century did
the ancient ruins come to light. In the mid-20th
century the modern town and ancient ruins were
restored. The Marinella Stornara Nature Reserve
also is in the town.
Nova Siri
— changed its name in 1872 to reflect the Greek
heritage from the Latin name Bollita. The town
center has a castle and in the surrounding area
known as Cugno dei Vagni district there is an
Imperial era Roman villa and thermal baths.
Pisticci—
has traces of habitation dating back to the Iron
Age. Greek settlers arrived in the 8th century
BC. A vase painting school existed there under
Pietro di Pisticci, whose works are now museum
pieces. With the arrivals of the Normans in
1000AD, a feudal estate was set up. In the
1960’s industrialization changed the town from
its agrarian roots.
Policoro
— was a thriving trading center in the Middle
Ages. Its roots go back to the 7th century BC
with Greek farmers settling the area.
Archaeological finds were significant enough to
create a park that discloses the ancient town.
There is also a National Museum which explains
the Hellenization of the valleys away from the
coast. The town also encompasses a nature
reserve known as Bosco Pantano. It contains rare
fauna, wild boars, roe deer, martens and otters.
Rotondella
— overlooks the Metaponto plain and provides
panoramic views from a 16th century tower. The
town was built on unique spiral design with
concentric roads leading to the top of the town.
Scanzano Ionico
— is a modern town in the area located be-tween
the Agri and Cavone Rivers. A seaside resort
with long sandy beaches it also has historic
elements. The Termitito dating to the 8th
century BC has Roman baths, the Recoleta
has stately feudal homes and the “Andriace”
farmhouse, and the Torre di Mare has a
rampart tower.
Travel
Notes
Members
who traveled to Craco over the past three years
had the opportunity to stay at the Torre Fiore
Hotel Masseria. Last month they were chosen by
“tripadvisor.com” as a “Traveler’s Choice 2012
Top 25 Hotels in Italy.”
Torre Fiore will be the home base for the Fall
2012, “Basilicata: Coast to Coast Tour, giving
travelers a chance to see the region and this
beautiful facility.
Click
here to view
A Year in Craco. Events in Craco for
every month are listed. Thank you to Joe Rinaldi
in Canada for his contribution to this page.
