Episcopy

Episcopia is a town in the province of Potenza of 1,500 inhabitants divided between the various hamlets. The municipality extends into internal Basilicata; is one of the municipalities of the Sinni Valley, a river that touches this town and has been the protagonist of its history. The city of Episcopia was born as a Byzantine fortress to defend the borders of the Eastern Roman Empire against the Lombards. Over the centuries it was a fief of the Chiaramonte and then of the Sanseverino. In 1456 the city and its castle were granted to the Succurto and after various inheritances, with the conspiracy of the Barons in 1486 the fiefdom was reassigned to Camillo Della Porta. The city also became a marquisate. One of the most important monuments in the area is the castle built by the Byzantines in the eighth century. It is located on a rocky spur and preserves two opposing and different towers. First used as a fortress under the Normans, it was enlarged and transformed into a castle with a wide staircase leading to the portal on which there are frescoes depicting noble coats of arms of the feudal families of Episcopia. The territory is crossed by the Sinni river which is first of all very fishy and supplies not only high quality raw materials but also beauty to the territory. Symbol of the religiosity of the town is the mother church of San Nicola di Bari, restored and reopened to the public in 2011. The church is spread over 3 naves, in the central niche above the main altar is the marble statue of San Nicola with beside the statue dedicated to the Bishop of Mira; inside a chapel along the left aisle is the Madonna del Piano. The church preserves a painting depicting the Madonna and Child, rich 16th century decorations and a stucco altar with two polychrome statues. The 16th century convent of Sant'Antonio preserves the church and cloister and a majolica-decorated bell tower in excellent condition. Typical traditional dishes are: peasant-style lamb, cod a ciaureddra, sage biscuits, capitone on the spit, chiocchioline in tomato sauce, cutturiddri and omelette with chilli. In the city there is an important event every year, the harvest festival. Along the road that leads to the monastery of Santa Maria del Piano there is a large hollow oak in an oasis where once, according to an ancient tradition, the wooden statue of the Madonna del Piano was found by a group of reapers. During the event women and men dressed in traditional clothes celebrate with dances and songs. In the area there is an important pasticifio that produces not only normal pasta but also pasta with Sienese chilli, gnocchi and hidden tagliatelle.