Valsinni is a splendid medieval village in Basilicata, in the province of Matera. A romantic place, halfway between the sea and the mountains, surmounted by a historic castle. This stands on Mount Coppolo, which in turn is included in the Pollino National Park, the largest protected area in Italy.
A village rich in history, fascinating and dramatic. Setting foot here makes it impossible not to throw your mind in the direction of a story that freezes the blood in your veins. It is about Isabella Mora, to which an entire area is dedicated, that is the first literary park in Southern Italy. The woman had a poetic and romantic correspondence with Diego Sandoval, Spanish baron of Bollita, currently known as Nova Siri. A passion for which she was slain by her own brothers.
What to see in Valsinni
There is a clear separation between the ancient and modern part of the village, considering that in the former it is not possible to access by car. There are countless ancient houses, with centuries of history among their stones, barely separated by narrow streets, which climb along the rocky spur. It is easy to get lost in the narrow streets of Valsinni, admiring the splendor of the ancient side of the village, perched on the sides of the spur, which dominates the Sinni valley from above. This name is related to the homonymous watercourse, once known as Siris (so called by the Greeks and Romans). In this area the largest clay dam in Europe was built, that of Monte Cotugno.
Impossible not to pay attention to Baronial Castle of the Morra, as well as the Mother Church, and then visit the Literary Park. The Castle is undoubtedly the most representative monument of the country. The exploited base seems to have been that of a Lombard fortification, erected shortly after the year 1000. The name Morra is that of the owners who owned the structure for 140 years. From 1921 to today, however, the Castle belongs to the Rinaldi family.
La Mother Church it is located in the historic center of Valsinni and dates back to the seventeenth century. There remain some decorative fragments of a pre-existing chapel in the portal, which would allow a dating around the thirteenth century. It was rebuilt in 1853. Inside, an eighteenth-century wooden sculpture, a rare organ from the same century and, obviously, the relics of San Fabiano, patron saint of the village, attract attention. The Literary Park instead it leads visitors to the poet's emblematic places. Space for moments of literary and theatrical animation, with stories from guide-storytellers. The area was inaugurated in 1993 and boasts real immersive journeys, discovering the uniqueness of the village.
Typical dishes
In the South there is never a shortage of richly laid tables and Valsinni also boasts its large number of typical dishes. Cured meats and cheeses dominate the appetizers. This area falls within the territory of the IGP (Protected Geographical Indication), authorized to produce the famous Senise pepper (variety of chilli). This is dried, becoming “crusco pepper”, often accompanied by the Ferrandina DOP oil.
The first courses revolve around the homemade pasta: cavatelli, strascinati, lagane and calzoni di ricotta, among others), prepared following ancient recipes. Space also for "poor dishes", for which leftover bread is used. Some recipes are pancotto with onion or underwire sausage with crumb. To taste the "nghenderata", Or spiced pork preserved in jars, as well as the"a'ngornata“, Savory pie filled with meats and cheeses. Typical desserts include calzoncelli with chestnuts and dark chocolate, or filled with chickpea cream, mandarin peel and liqueur.
Myths and legends
A legend surrounds the village of Valsinni and, of course, it concerns Isabella Mora, tragically died. Born in 1520, she was killed by her brothers when she was only 26 years old. She was the daughter of Baron Giovanni Michele Morra, forced into exile by the Spaniards, because he sided with the French.
Fatal was her correspondence with the Spanish knight Diego Sandoval De Castro. As an Iberian, the latter was considered an enemy. First her tutor, who acted as an intermediary, was killed, then she was stabbed and, finally, the brothers killed him in an ambush. Since then it has been said that the ghost of the young poetess he wanders restlessly around the castle, where it would be possible to hear her complain about her unhappy and short life.
