Home » Mediterranean mills » The historic center

The historic center

centro storico

The historical center of Summonte develops along three roads: via Borgonuovo, which is the main street and crosses the urban center, connoting a housing system divided into two fronts, from the latter are grafted, on one side, via Varra that goes back hill towards the mountain front and on the other, via Arco San Nicola, which re-liaising with via Castello, where the ancient village develops, create an enveloping system around the hill on which the Angevin tower stands.

The medieval village, characterized by the majestic Angevin tower, in recent years has been the subject of numerous restoration and functional redevelopment with a difficult task of restorative restoration accompanied by archaeological investigations and historical-documentary research, aimed at reconstituting the equipment of the ancient castle complex coming to an integral recovery of historical architecture.

The space of the tower and of the castle, today brought back to its ancient splendor, host a permanent exhibition inside them, with various types of documentation, relating to the history of the territory and its natural resources and the civic museum of Summonte.

In addition to the church of San Nicola di Bari, located in via Varra, there is the church of Sant’Andrea, dating back to 1559. Very simple is its interior with a single central altar and a large round arch with frescoes depicting scenes of life of the Holy Martyr Vito. The façade has no decorations and presents the classic tympanum crown with an oval central eye.

In addition to these are the most important historical emergencies, the historical center of Summonte is characterized by the presence of valuable elements and architectural importance of various kinds. Worthy of note, in fact, are the buildings of clear sixteenth century, with internal courtyard and monumental entrance as Pepere palace and Palazzo Brosca in Via Varra, Palazzo Montella and Palazzo De Cristofaro in Via Borgonuovo, which were then superimposed interventions of clear mold eighteenth century.

Always worthy of note is the Arch of St. Nicholas, dedicated to the patron saint, of medieval origin was one of the doors that allowed access to the fortified structures of the ancient village. The different transformations and the historical stratifications have changed the original appearance of the door that incorporated into the curtain walls of the houses developed over the centuries, has acquired the current connotation, characterized by a simple round arch on piers in local stone blocks.

On the top of the arch inscribed by two simple pilasters, there is also an arched shrine inside which the image of San Nicola di Bari is depicted.

Virtual tour