History Typical mountain village, Agerola boasts ancient history. The discovery of amphorae, oil lamps, vases and coins belonging to the early Caesars of Rome, tombs, dwellings, roads and tunnels, support the view that this village was already known to the ancient Romans.
The first settlements The name derives Agerola, almost certainly, from "ager," the Latin word for field. In fact, its origins, the first inhabitants tilled the small fields in the thick forests that covered the entire territory, obtaining in this way, a little area where it developed over the centuries the city center. Currently, the country still has this feature with the territory divided into numerous small fields obtained accommodation in the "terraces" of the mountain slopes.
Middle Age Agerola in the Middle Ages, with its five villages, was part of the territory of the Republic of Amalfi, which extended from Ravello to Positano, with its vast areas of forest, timber supplied the arsenals of the Republic for the construction of ships. As part of the territory of Amalfi, Agerola shared between these historical events and wars against the Saracens. In this period the country entertained trade with Naples, especially for the manufacture of silk fabrics in which the agerolesi were specialized.
The Naples Kingdom and brigandage It is said that in 1600 Agerola mountains were infested by robbers, who, in the thick woods, found a safe hiding place. In the following centuries the town became part of the Kingdom of Naples which followed the ups and downs until the unification of Italy.
|
|
French Revolution In the eighteenth century Agerola had a very prosperous period by the growth in the number of inhabitants. In fact, due to the Bourbon reforms improved with the reduction of taxes, economic conditions, but above all, nearly disappeared brigandage.
The ideas of the French revolution were accepted by the Agerola living in Naples so Agerola was the first country in the province to join the democratic constitution of the Neapolitan Republic. After the restoration of 1815 Agerola developed also in the secret societies.
General Avitabile The dominant figure in the last Bourbon period was General Avitabile, who in 1844 obtained a splitting of the province of Salerno Agerola aggregarla to that of Naples.
The city was thus separated from the territory of Amalfi, with whom he had shared centuries of history and stay connected only for the religious jurisdiction of the municipality. Agerola, bolstered by a very rich past, as well as natural beauty, offering visitors a rich artistic and architectural interest.
|