Barile, Potenza [Basilicata]
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English language
Its origins are very ancient; it was probably built by some Greek colonists who later abandoned the village. In 1460, the village was repopulated by Albanian refugees coming from Scutari and Kroia who settled in this territory to escape the Turkish invasions. Still today the people of BARILE follow the ethnic traditions and speak the Albanian dialect; the Greek – Albanian religious rite was followed up to 1627, a year in which the bishop of Melfi abolished it and imposed the Latin rite. Barile was the fief of the Caracciolos and then of the Carafas. Of great artistic interest are the Mother Church housing a 15th-century Byzantine painting depicting the Madonna of Costantinople and the Sanctuary Madonna SS. Of Costantinople, probably built in the middle of the 17th century housing a Byzantine – style wall fresco depicting the Madonna. Noteworthy is the “Fontana dello Steccato”, afountain made of stone, built in 1713 and composed of three heads representing figures used for driving away the wicked spirits. On the outskirts of the village, it is possible to admire the “Sheshe”, grottoes excavated in the tufa by the first Albanian, today used for the preservation of the delicious Aglianico wine. The enchanting setting of these grottoes inspired Pier Paolo Pasolini, the famous director of the film “Il Vangelo secondo Matteo” in 1964. He shot the exteriors of the film here, probably attracted by the landscape surrounding BARILE which is very similar to the Palestinian landscape. Walking through the streets of the village it is possible to admire interesting portals of ancient palces such as those of De Rosa Palace and Caracciolo Palace. The Holy Week rite are caratteristic, especially the Procession taking place on Good Friday during which the Malco (the person who, tied with ropes and with his shoes on the wrong feet, reproaches himself for having slapped Jesus) the Gypsy ( the woman who gave the nails for Jesus’ Crucifixion) and the Mori (the crudel invaders of the Albanian people) go by through the streets of the village along with religious characters. Grapevine plantations and olive groves are well – developed throughout this area; in fact, it is possible to find many oil mills and cellars where the Aglianico CDO wine is produced and matured.
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