Dinner with a princess in Teggiano

Let’s return in the province of Salerno, to talk about a wonderful area named Cilento, and especially about Teggiano, a Unesco World Heritage site.

Teggiano and Diano Valley  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1377233

This town was built on a hill, surrounded by Diano valley, and it reached the leading role in the territory during the Middle Ages, when the Sanseverino family, prince of Salerno, choose Teggiano to build a castle, because of the strategic defensive position of the place. This was the set of important political schemes: in 1485 in this castle took place the famous "Barons' plot", with which the prince of Salerno conspired against the king of Naples, Ferrante of Aragon. In 1497, few years after this event, the new neapolitan king, Frederick, tried invain to take his revenge laying siege to the castle, that  endured heroically thanks to people 's support to the prince.

Sanseverino Castle, photo by www.castellomacchiaroli.it

In 1480 Antonello Sanseverino, prince of Salerno, married Costanza Montefeltro, duchess of Urbino:  after the marriage  they visited Teggiano,  where they were celebrated with honor.

Wedding parade during "Alla tavola della Principessa Costanza", photo by http://www.prolocoteggiano.it 

To commemorate this historical event, a three days Medieval Festival takes place in Teggiano every year, in August: the so called “Alla tavola della principessa Costanza” (At Princess Costanza’s table), organized by Pro Loco. Walkin around the ancient alleys, you can admire a faithful reconstruction of medieval life, with workshop of art and crafts as smith, goldsmith, glassmaker, or assist to Flags and Minstrels shows, while tasting medieval recipes in the taverns (you pay it in archaic coins: Coronato, Ducato or Tornese) .

Medieval Smith, photo by http://www.prolocoteggiano.it

Flag Show,  photo by http://www.prolocoteggiano.it

A medieval dressed parade with bride and groom personified by actors walks trough the streets, starting from the Castle, and directed to Antico Sedile, where the ceremony takes place: the City Council, sitted by a stone table, gives its consent  to the wedding! It’s time to celebrate it with Candle carousel and Palio of Hamlets, a challenge among the neighboring villages . At midnight the Aragonese assault to the castle, really happened in 1497,  is faithfully reproduced, with ancient armours and weapons, and a stunning fireworks show.

Bride and Groom,  photo by http://www.prolocoteggiano.it

Antico Sedile,  photo by http://www.prolocoteggiano.it

Medieval show,  photo by http://www.prolocoteggiano.it

Assault to the castle,  photo by http://www.prolocoteggiano.it

Medieval Army,  photo by http://www.prolocoteggiano.it

While you stay in Teggiano, you should pay a visit to the Museum of customs and traditions of Diano Valley, where you can find a collection of tools, still usable, that testimony the unfolding of ancient rural life in Teggiano and in neighboring towns: there is a loom with canvas, a spinning wheel, a plough, a lawnmower, instruments to woodcraft, and a portrait section, where you can see the difference between people from lower and upper classes.

Museum of customs and traditions,  photo by http://www.prolocoteggiano.it

Food: Surely the South of Italy offers a rich culinary tradition, and Cilento is an area where old recipes and genuine flavours can still be tasted. The mountains surrounding Diano valley are the ideal place to breeds animals according to ancient methods, so the meat and cheese that you taste here are expecially good.

A famouse recipe of Teggiano is  “Parmatieddi”, a kind of handmade pasta, leaf shaped to commemorate Jesus entrance in Jerusalem. They are served with ragu and pecorino cheese, and they really taste delicious!

Parmatieddi, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parmatieddi.jpg

In the eve days, that according to religion should be lean days, housewives prepare “Stufati”, a timbale made of spaghetti, sardines, raisin and guts.

Stufati, http://www.agricoltura.regione.campania.it/tipici/tradizionali/stufati-teggiano.html

How to reach Teggiano:

v  Driving your car:

§  Salerno- Reggio Calabria highway, Sala Consilina exit

-follow the signals

v  By train

§  Napoli or Salerno station

¨       Local buses