ROCCA GLORIOSA

Roccagloriosa is situated on an isolated spur of rock near Mount Bulgaria. Its present name derives from the Madonna, la “Gloriosa” Vergine Maria, (the Glorious Virgin Maria), venerated in the Castle church. The town was settled in the 5th century, but the roots of the original settlement can be traced as far back as the Ausonian, Enotrian, Oscan, Greek and Roman civilizations.
An important stage in its history was the founding of the ancient town of Leo (the Roman Orbitania) between the 5th and 4th centuries B.C. by Sibarite refugees following the destruction of their city by Crotone. Leo was built on a small plateau, protected on one side by Mount Capitenali and on the other by a mighty defensive wall. From this position it was able to dominate a vast area of the surrounding territory.
Orbitania was subsequently destroyed by the Romans in retaliation for its alliance with Carthage during the war between the latter and Rome. Towards the end of the Roman Empire, the Roman general Stilicone installed a military encampment on the site and what was once Orbitania became known as Stilicone.
In the year 537 A.D., during the campaign against the Ostrogoths, the place was again destroyed, this time by a military leader from of the Justinian Empire of the Orient, a certain General Belisario.
In the year 1412 the town was rebuilt by Stilitiani and Bulgari. To crown the achievement, a castle was erected on the summit of the hill and the whole was settlement was enclosed within defensive walls. Inside the castle, perhaps in thanksgiving for the outcome of some local military victory, a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built and given the title “La Gloriosa”, from whence the name Roccagloriosa.
In 1512 the town was destroyed once more, by the pirate Dragut Bassa and yet again, in 1806 when a six-thousand strong army of French infantry burned it to the ground.
Historical events have greatly influenced the aspects of the countryside surrounding Roccagloriosa, impregnating it with an extraordinary archeological, artistic and historic heritage. In spite of having been subject to an almost endless series of terrible invasions, the descendants of old Orbitania always rebuilt their town and its fascinating story is narrated in the ruins of its castle, in its narrow streets, portals, and its numerous churches. Roccagloriosa is, in fact, one of the oldest settlements in the Lower Cilento area.
Clustered around the castle, the old town centre of Roccagloriosa, with its winding flights of steps, its houses complete with a strange abundance of old cellars, numerous shoring walls, enclosed Arabic gardens and small open public spaces, offers a rich selection of the techniques employed in the construction of these typical old mountain villages.