Bisignano

Bisignano is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza, part of in the Calabria region of southern Italy. It is situated on hills in the Crati valley, between the Pollino and Sila National Parks. History Bisignano is the ancient Besidiae recorded by Livy, subsequently Besidianum and Bisidianum, whose founding archaeological remains date back to the 15th/14th century B.C. In 1054 Bisignano was an independent municipality. It became the residence of a Norman count and later a fief of the Orsini family. In 1641 it became a fief of the Sanseverino family until 1806. According to Henry Yule, Giovanni de Marignolli, famous for his account of travels in China, was made bishop of Bisignano in 1354. "The bishop, however, seems to have been in no hurry to reside there; thinking perhaps that a man who had spent so many years of his life in travelling to Cathay and back, might be excused from passing the whole of those that remained to him in the wilds of Calabria." In 1467 Albanian leader Skanderbeg's daughter, wife of the Prince of Bisignano, invited many Albanian families who established various colonies, spoke their own language, and used the Greek Rite. Skanderbeg had previously helped King Ferdinand I of Naples end a French-supported insurrection and been rewarded with the grant of land in Puglia. An alternative version maintains that it was Skanderbeg's niece Irene Castriota, Duchess of San Pietro di Galatina and wife of Pietro Antonio Sanseverino, Prince of Bisignano, who invited Albanians to settle in the area. This was one of the origins of Calabria's Italo-Albanian Arbëreshë community. Luca Antonio Pirozzo, better known as St. Humilis of Bisignano (1582–1637), was a Franciscan monk born in Bisignano. Main sights Riforma Convent (founded in 1222), containing a wooden Crucifixion sculpted by Frate Umile da Petralia (1637), a statue of the Madonna of the Graces in marble attributed to the school of Domenico Gagini and a painting of Saint Daniel attributed to Luca Giordano. Palazzo Gallo, built in the early 17th century, notable for its wrought ironwork. Church of San Domenico, former convent founded in 1475, destroyed in the 1887 earthquake and rebuilt in the [Romanesque]-[Gothic] style. Palazzo Sanseverino, residence of the princely Sanseverino family. Cathedral: destroyed in the earthquake and rebuilt, retains the arch of the Gothic door and a Gothic portal. Museo del Cavallo (Museum of the Horse) designed by Marcello Guido is an example of the deconstructivist school of modern architecture Economy Apart from the famous string instruments and pottery handicraft traditions, the main area of activity is agriculture. "At Bisignano they make the earth sparkle and wood play". Agriculture has prospered in the fertile valleys of the area. The town and the other four municipalities of the Calabrian district specialise in the cultivation and production of cereals, pasta, vegetables, fruit (citrons, bergamot oranges, oranges, clementine tangerines, lemons, grapefruit), savoury goat and sheep’s milk cheeses (Caciocavallo silano in particular), hot red peppers, fine extra-virgin olive oil of medium-high quality (various types: slightly fruity, aromatised, organic and the more famous Bruzio DOP), robust and delicate wines (Donnici in particular) and sweets. The growing of olives destined to make DOP olive oil is important in the Crati valley. Greenhouse farming, holiday farms and the breeding of thoroughbred horses are also major activities. Gastronomy The local gastronomic specialities worthy of note include dishes like coccìa, made with boiled wheat and emmer, maccaruni with meat sauce, the famous capocollo steccato, made with the top part of pork loin and delicious Christmas sweets such as imbigliulati (a mixture of honey, figs, nuts, raisins and almonds) fried pasta reale with honey and vissinielli (leavened batter with pieces of anchovy or fried sardines). References External links Street Map of Bisignano Coat of Arms of Bisignano Bisignano, aerial view