Thoughts of an Italian Writer: (1c)

Dr. Antonio Castaldo, Sociologist and Journalist, Brusciano, Italy

"A Slow Walk between Art, History and Memory" (4)

(Continued from Page: 3)

And it is to Brusciano "Municipality of Europe" that we have reached, after passing "the sword of Damocles" suspended over the vehicular traffic, in the form of a gigantic sign placed at the exit just as it was to the entrance of Mariglianella. A solitary secular pine stands out on the Nationale entitled Camillo Cucca (Brusciano 1829-Napoli 1893) inspector of the Royal Navy who died in the line of service responding to a medical mission.

That pine marks also the limit of the properties that once belonged to the De Ruggiero Family whose maximum exponent in contemporary history is Guido De Ruggiero (Naples 1888-Rome 1948), historian of philosophy, anti-fascist, Minister of Education of the first Bonomi government after the fall of Fascism. He was laid to rest in the family chapel in the local cemetery, where the epitaph of Benedetto Croce reminds us that, "...hope/ in dark times return to reason/was the new generation of Italy/ teacher and apostle of faith in 'humanity."

Moving toward the center you walk on the new sidewalks laid in bricks from porphyry, and walk through the volcanic stone. The access passages to the main doors return to the traditional basalt and sometimes to enter in Piperno they are referred nearly to mirror with the architecture of old buildings constructed in tuff stones in a duplicated form that gives a regular rhythm to the look and the step of man. The crossing, the center of gravity of the Bruscianese line, from the door of the Nationale leads upstream to Somma Vesuvius and downstream toward the historical center of Via Semmola, there is a house that exists today without interruption from the late 1500s to early 1900s. It should be mentioned that its members have brought success through politics, medicine, pharmacology and philanthropic efforts.

The short story "Piazza XI Settembre," a little distance from the wayfarer, connects this part of the world with the tragedy and international solidarity aspirations. Walking further, a nice recess welcomes us in the renovated "Piazzetta San Sebastiano," an olive tree and the chapel of San Sebastiano Martire. The chapel of the family in 1866 became the parish church for the donation which is now located at the magnificent complex of via De Ruggiero directed by Don Giovanni Lo Sapio.

Passing the communal house we approach what was once a fabulous place called "ncoppo' a mulara."

In the past, where now it is all filled and covered with houses, while on the elevated railway the train of the Circumvesuviana is passed , and can descend into a giant crater produced by men of ancient mining of Piperno. Here we move forward into a wild environment with spontaneous fauna and, at the lowest level, you will reach a pool of rainwater which in the summer drew throngs of kids who ventured on the "Lido Lubiam." The sign was suggested by the inscription on an advertising poster to encourage early consumption, children of an economic miracle placed elsewhere in Italy. But the ancient history brings us to dramatic episodes as that of the killing, at the hand of the bandits, of the mayor of Castelcisterna Francesco Calabrese, 60 year old piperno.
Continue: "A Slow Walk between Art, History and Memory " (5)
.
Translation from Italian to English by Miriam Medina
.
To contact: miriammedina@earthlink.net or miriam@thehistorybox.com
.