Territory

The urban center is located at 720 mt (2,360 ft), near the Sila. Its territory extension is 200.63 km2 (77.46 sq mi). It dominates the Mucone valley and the Crati valley.

The town's main rivers are Mucone, Calamo, and Duglia.

In the period between 2006 and 2015, it was found to be among the municipalities where relatively more cases of forest fires were caused by unknown individuals.^[4]

Climate

The climate is Mediterranean, characterized by harsh winters and summers of dry heat. This is not uniform throughout the whole town, and the suburbs may differ from the city centers.

Civil architectures

Castle of Acri

Castle's night view

The castle of Acri, also known as Rocca dei Bruzii, was a defensive work, probably erected in the Brutian era, of which only a splendid tower remains today, the symbol of the city.

It is located in on the edge of the territory controlled by the powerful Sybaris at the time of Magna Graecia. The hypothesis of bruzia construction now seems fully supported by the various archaeological finds dating from the Eneolithic to the final Bronze Age, found all around the old city of Acri.

Later it was a Roman fortress, as described in a marble plaque in Latin (found in 1890), with the inscription "XII LEGIO", and small portions of mosaics, probably Greek, found near the castle.

The shape of the castle was originally trapezoidal with three towers placed in the highest part, and the fourth placed in the lowest level of the defensive walls to control the drawbridge or the machicolation gate. The defensive walls surrounded the entire citadel of the Pàdia district.

The surrounding walls of the castle have a diameter of about two meters in the highest part of the perimeter, while the walls of the lower level were described as having a diameter of about four meters.

Visible until the early twentieth century, the cistern for water supply in the event of a siege was located north of the existing tower: it was about two floors high (that is, six meters high) and twenty wide.

In 1999 several coins of Greek origin were found in the walls of the castle, including some from Sybaris, others from Thurii, and only one from Crotone, now in possession of the Archaeological Superintendence of Sibaritide.

Infrastructure and transport

The main connection road is SP660 which connects Acri with the motorway A2 ( Reggio – Salerno ) and the Sila National Park. Another important road is the SP177 which connects Acri with the road SS106 ( Reggio – Taranto ) and the Corigliano-Rossano City. Road accident risk: the danger is high along the SP 660.^[9]

Sports facilities

"Pasquale Castrovillari" Municipal Stadium with a capacity of 5000 seats.

Football

The main team of the city is Calcio Acri which plays in the Calabria Promotion championship.

In addition there is also the 5-a-side football team called Calcio a 5 Acri which plays in the provincial championship of the CSI.

Rugby

Also present is the rugby team, "Rugby Acri" which in recent years has achieved important successes on the regional scene.

Prehistoric settlements

The discovery of the archaeological site of Colle Logna in Acri, by Prof. Giuseppe Palermo, took place in 1996. The excavations in Colle Logna archaeological site started in 1998 by the Archaeological Superintendence of Calabria, Sibari Excavation Office, in agreement with the European Protohistory Department of the Università "La Sapienza" di Roma. A human settlement was discovered on the western slopes of Colle Logna. The most ancient artifacts found were dated to the beginning of the middle Neolithic (6350 +/-50 BC)^[10] while the most recent are recognizable as manifestations of the ancient Bronze Age (2800-2100 BC). In 2002, a second site was identified in the locality of Policaretto (in the municipality of Acri). The two settlements are placed opposite each other. Identical materials have been found but in the second in greater quantities, and perhaps, according to experts, even older. The extension of the second settlement must have been considerable, including several hill peaks.

In July 2002 a third excavation campaign started in the Policaretto locality.

Among the findings on the site, we note the discovery of ovens for the processing of ceramics, Bruzia pottery, and the remains of a Roman villa, dated to the 2nd-1st century BC. Other findings in the area include obsidian and flint arrowheads, fragments of local pottery, Osca or Bruzia, remains of archaic Greek pottery, small bronze objects, and various Greek coins, now in custody at the National Archaeological Museum of Sibaritide.

So, in summary, between the Eneolithic and the Late Bronze Age, a human settlement was present in the territory of Acri.

Pandosia

Magna Grecia 280aC

"Pandosia Bruzia" is an ancient city mentioned by ancient historians and probably located in the territory of Acri.x

Pandosia is described by the historian Strabo (VI 1, -5) as the ancient capital of the people of Enotri, therefore it must have been an important center between the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, in a more recent age it is remembered because the King of Epirus Alexander the Molosser was murdered near the river Acheron, which flowed in its vicinity.

In the historic center as well as in Acri's surroundings, considerable archaeological finds analyzed with carbon 14 have highlighted the constant presence of the area starting from the Pre-Eneolithic up to the Iron Age, furthermore, subsequent discoveries show the frequentation up to the Classical Age.

Acri in Roman times

Acri opposed the dominion of Rome but, after the battle of Canne, sided with Carthaginians and then had to surrender in 203 BC.

His desire for freedom was revived between 73 and 71 BC. when, together with the neighboring municipalities, supported the revolt of Spartacus, encamped in the territories called Campo Vile near the municipality of Bisignano, during the third servile war .^[11]

Procopius tells us that the Acri's fortress later passed to the Emperor Justinian. In 542 we have news of the strenuous resistance that the city of Acri opposed to the Ostrogoths, led by Totila, who conquered the city, using hunger and thirst, sacked it, destroying much of it, and perpetrating horrible acts of violence.

Acri in medieval and modern times

In the first half of 650 and at the end of 670, to escape an intense epidemic of malaria, the inhabitants still remaining in nearby Thurii moved to Acri. The demographic increase involved a clear improvement in productive activities: it was a period of general well-being.

From the Longobards to the Normans

With the arrival of the Longobards in the Crati valley, Acri immediately became their Gastaldato, of considerable economic importance, this at least until 896, when it was occupied by Byzantines first and then by Saracens.

Once freed, three other Saracen raids are documented in 945, 1009 and 1200.

In the first period of the arrival of the Normans, led by Roberto il Guiscardo Acri and the city of Bisignano, the two stronger cities in the Crati valley were repeatedly attacked and sacked; at the end of the war, Guiscardo, to maintain and consolidate power, bestowed wide privileges on the nobles.

And in the year 1074-1075 he granted to count Simone Cofone (count of Acri and of Pàdia) large portions of the Sila territory, at the time partly ancient possession of the Cistercian monks of the monastery called dei Menna, and partly of Count Cofone.^[12]

Between 1084 and 1086 A.D. the conflict of interest resulted in a bloody war. The truce, which provided for the count of Acri to retain possession of the lands, but with the obligation to pay tribute to the monks, turned out to be a chimera. Other disputes followed one another and the convent was attacked as the neighboring ones, and it continued in such a bloody way, that the Pope Urban II excommunicated all the participants, and the Norman magistracy sentenced them to five years in prison and the payment of five thousand pounds of gold and silver to the adversaries of the monks, who got the lands back.^[13]

Meanwhile, in that period the slow but progressive work of Latinization wanted by the Normans continued, but in an environment strongly linked to the Byzantine cult, in fact, it should be remembered that San Nilo da Rossano between 982 and 987 founded the monastery of Saints Hadrian, Natalia and Demetrius in the territory of Acri, the most consistent center of the Basilians in Calabria. Near the monastery arose the Picitti, Schifo, and Poggio districts, later absorbed over time by the Albanian village of San Demetrio Corone.^[14]

The monastic order of the Cistercians played an important role in the spiritual life of the time in the territory of Acri, they built the monastery known as the SS. Trinity de Lignos Crucis . This monastery was built between 1153 and 1195 and housed the Abbot Gioacchino da Fiore probably destroyed during the last incursion of the Saracens into the territory around 1220–1240. The monastery was important for the development of the culture of silkworm and in various other craft activities, such as the leather tannery and factories.^[15]

Earthquake of 1185

In the History of Bisignano , it describes the earthquake which occurred in the ancient diocese of Bisignano, and mentions that under the government of Guglielmo II between 1184 and 1186 the Calabria was shaken by terrible earthquakes and various centers of the presila were damaged or completely destroyed, and that in 1185 Acri was almost completely destroyed by the earthquake. To this was added the devastation caused by hunger and cholera following a long drought, which aggravated the situation of the survivors. Only after several months of work, mainly due to landslides, was it possible to open a communication route to be able to bring wagons and reach the most isolated areas of the territory. Other documented earthquakes were those of 908; 10 December 968; 990; 24 May 1184; 24 October 1186; 27 March 1638; 1712; 1738; 14 July 1767; 5 February 1783; 1787; 10 December 1824; 8 March 1832; 12 October 1835; 24 April 1836.^[16]

Cholera and plague epidemics

In addition to cholera between 1184 and 1186, it is known for sure that Calabria, and especially Cosenza, was prey to various epidemics that halved the population then existing. Documented is the plague of 1348, the successive ones of 1422, 1528, 1575, 1656, 1638, 1738 and lastly the Spanish, which occurred in the early century, which according to the census cost the lives of about a thousand citizens.^[17]

Acri in 1300

In 1300 the number of state-owned cities, that is, not fiefdoms to private families and remained in possession of the crown, was not small.

The Sangineto and the Sanseverino demanded the restitution of the territories acquired by the Diocese of Bisignano, according to them usurped by the bishops and abbots.

Between these lands and these fiefdoms there was Acri, under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Bisignano, who was forbidden to consider them fiefs of the Church, since for the precedents arranged by Charles I of Anjou, the aforementioned territories and the relative castles fell within the sphere of competence and pertinence of the barons. The bishop's stubborn refusal not to give up the lands and not wanting to renounce the alleged feudal rights, unleashed the powerful baron's revenge.

The riots, reprisals and violent and bloody clashes between the various suitors were continuous, the most significant and dramatic occurred in 1339.

The Baron Ruggero II Sangineto, taking advantage of the confusion that reigned in Bisignano at the time, was able to complete his design: from Corigliano a group of armed on horseback, he reached Acri, and dragging hungry and needy common people with him, eager for looting and booty, they headed for Bisignano.

On 28 June 1339, the eve of the feast of St. Peter and Paul, they entered the city of Bisignano and killed both the Bishop's personal guards and family members, and all those who defended him.

Finally, the dying bishop was mercilessly dragged and tied to the tail of the Sangineto horse.

With other convicts he was taken to a place, called Scannaturu, probably located behind the current church of San Domenico.

The unfortunate bishop by now lifeless was condemned to be beheaded, immediately carried out, as for all the other condemned who suffered the same fate.^[18][19]

Frederick II, the Angevins and the Aragonese

During the reign of Frederick II the city enjoyed a period of relative tranquility and considerable economic prosperity, it became an important center in the silk trade, until the arrival of the Angevins and then of the Aragonese, who considerably weakened the city's economy with their heavy taxes.

In 1462 the Duke of San Marco Argentano, Luca Sanseverino, bought the city of Acri and Bisignano from the tax authorities, by concession of the king Ferrante I d'Aragona, for the sum of 20,000 gold and silver ducats.

In the same year the city of Acri, which remained loyal to the Angevins, underwent a terrible siege by the Aragonese troops, who, failing to conquer the city, through the collaboration of a traitor, a certain Milan, indicated to the enemy troops the signals of the guards of the outposts, and who at the appointed time in the middle of the night opened the gates of the city.

The heroic commander of the city guards, Nicolò Clancioffo, in the square of the castle, was sawed alive by the loins, and his body divided into four pieces and exhibited on the four towers of the castle.

From a document of the notary Marsilio Aliprandi of 1479–80, it is stated that many properties in the Parrieti, Padia, Picitti and Castello districts were sold as vegetable gardens, because the houses were burned, now in ruins, and there were not enough men to rebuild the said neighborhoods.

We do not have complete news of 1462, but it is assumed that in that war the city lost about two thousand inhabitants, including part of the armies that followed the viceroy Grimaldi, who, together with a few of his own, was able to escape from the dungeons of the Castle di Acri, and then take refuge in the nearby Longobucco.

Acri from 1492 to 1499

From 1492 Acri passed under the Aragonese governorate. On the descent of Charles VIII, the prince of Bisignano set off to meet the king, while the count of Acri and the marquis of Squillace, fled and refugees in Sicily. Their possessions were confiscated by King Charles, then donated to a certain D'Aubugny loyal to the Angevins, allies of Charles VIII, but when they knew that all the lands had been donated to D'Aubugny, they supported again the Aragonese. The city of Acri sided with the king Frederick of Aragon, loyalty which cost to Acri year another siege (1496-1497) with modern siege weapons, the sacking of the city by the Angevins, the almost complete destruction of the castle, of some important noble palaces and the chiefs of the people, the nobles Placido and Sebastiano of the powerful Salvidio family, were killed and torn to pieces and their bodies thrown into manure.^{[20][21][22][23]}

Expulsion of the Jews

In 1511 by decree of king Ferdinand I the Jews, important figures in the economy of the city, inhabitants of the ancient ghetto of the Judeica. The local economy deteriorated considerably. The place where the ghetto was still today is called Judeica, located near the torrente Calamo, outside the fortified walls; the presence of the ghetto in Acri is documented before the year one thousand.

Brigandage in Acri

Acri from the Unification of Italy to 1950

The history of Acri starting from the administration of Vincenzo Sprovieri, who, at the beginning, had raised great hopes in the people of Acri. These expectations were soon disappointed, as Sprovieri renounced the promises made in 1848 by establishing a despotic power. Sprovieri, if on the one hand he managed to eradicate the phenomenon of brigandage, on the other he used the immense state property owned by the municipality, to win the benevolence of councilors, councilors and voters, leaving the so-called "acritan plebs" .

Subsequent administrations made no changes to Sprovieri's line, continuing to plunder the state property, regardless of the complaints made by the local newspapers of the time, to the competent authorities, actually conniving.^[26]

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the situation of the town had little changed compared to the Risorgimento period. In recent years, the first and only electricity company was born in Acri, which will then supply public and private electricity, but which brought few benefits to the majority of the population, but many useful to its operators. Also in these years, social assistance was born with the creation of a hospital, a hospice for the poor and a boarding school thanks to the activity of Francesco Maria Greco to whom he also goes the merit of having moralized the clergy of Acri.

During World War I, 1,518 Acresi left for the front. The postwar period was characterized in Acri by the outbreak of cholera, by massive social demonstrations due to the high cost of living and the lack of work.

In 1927, with the unfortunate advent of fascism, the administration podestarile of Paride Manes begins, followed by those of Filippo Sprovieri, Angelo Giannone and by Pasquale Talarico which ended in 1943.

On the work of the Podestà administrations, the words written by the Podestà Talarico to the Prefect of Cosenza apply that "in Acri there was, in the 40s, a sad administrative situation, a no less sad moral situation of the population who still lived under a regime feudal without the fascist civilization having even appeared to lighten the minds and soften the hearts of most of the citizens ".

At the outbreak of World War II, 1,352 Acri citizens left for the front.

With the fall of fascism, the municipal administration was governed by the prefectural commissioners who were unable to respond to the lack of food and the scarcity of work.^[27]

A turning point took place, with the election as mayor of Saverio Spezzano, in 1946, who kept faith with the commitments made during the electoral campaign, ensuring the people of Acri bread, work but also "balls and mesh", that is rigor and legality.

A difficult year for Acri was 1948, due to a strong political conflict, for the occupation of the lands, in particular the Pietramorella wood.

Traits

The highest population density is in the main town: Acri. The old age index instead indicates a concentration of the same in rural areas, as well as for the incidence of elderly couples. The incidence of highly-medium-specialized professions and education level is higher in the main urban center.^[28]

Ethnicities and foreign minorities

According to ISTAT as of 31 December 2018, the foreign resident population was 721 people.^[29] Top ten nationalities:

1.  Romania 312
2.  Albania 107
3.  Bulgaria 104
4.  China 27
5.  Poland 24
6.  Ukraine 18
7.  Mali 13
8.  Germany 11
9.  United States 8
10.  India 8
11.  Somalia 8

Others: Afghanistan, Iraq 7, Tunisia 5, Russian Federation, Latvia, Bangladesh 4, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso 3, Austria, France, Liberia, Spain, Hungary, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Venezuela, Gambia 2, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, Pakistan, Guinea, Algeria, Angola, Sudan, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Philippines, Argentina, Moldova, Ivory Coast.

Languages and dialects

The dialect of Acri is a Romance language, it derives from the spoken Latin, even if it retains traces of stratifications of the languages of the dominations that followed. Among the main characteristics of the Acri's dialect, compared to Italian: -Added "EA" in the endings of words and verbs (e.g. accattatu in calabrian becomes accatteatu in acrese) - the transformation of the vowels "O" and "E" of Italian respectively into the vowels "U" and "I" (peres., vinu = wine; pani = bread); - the transformation of the letter "B" of the Italian into "V" (vasciu = bass); however when the "B" is preceded by the "M" it assumes its sound (progressive assimilation: gamma = leg); - singular characteristic of the Acri's dialect is that of changing the consonant "L" followed by a vowel into "D"; e.g. in Calabrian "mela" becomes "mida", in the acrese dialect: "midu"; "luci" (light) becomes "duci".

In general, Acri follows the Calabrian dialect that is common in Calabria & Southern Italy.

Museums and libraries

Municipal Library in the Padula Palace.

MACA Acri Contemporary Art Museum in the Palazzo Sanseverino-Falcone.

Museum of the Beato Angelo in the premises of the convent of the Capuchin Fathers.

Museum of rural civilization in the Padula Palace.

Media