Page 1: CHAPTER I ⢠HISTORICAL DATA OF THE ORIGIN OF CASTELMEZZANO
Historical documentation shows that Castelmezzano, originally known as Guardia (Giard) was founded about 150 B.C.
This hamlet in the beginning, was one of the military fortifications built by the Roman, all along the Basento river, to oversee and watch over the primary invasion route of the region. After the fall of the Roman Empire, this fortification continued to be inhabited. The people of Guardia dedicated themselves to artisan work, pottery, ceramics and farming.
In the year 10 A.D. the Saraceni (Arabs)invaded Sicily, and began to infiltrate the center of Lucania, the region where Guardia is located.
The population found refuge in the inaccessible areas for safety. These places were well hidden, with plenty of room to gather rocks, which were called arms, derived from their uses. To defend themselves from the continuous invasions, finding themselves in an advantageous position in altitude, they rolled down huge rocks, a natural defense in that period in which true arms were non-existent.
In the “Barons Catalogue” circa 1000 A.D., the first historical reference of control of the town of Castelmezzano appeared.
Castle (for defense purposes) gives the name of Castelmezzano, which means castle in the middle, because it is the castle situated between castles of two nearby towns.
From research reports and other documents, it seems that our ancestors descended from refugees escaping from Sicily.
The Paterno lineage originated and belonged to the Prince’s family of Paterno, governing rulers of the region around Mt. Etna. A city of that name is located near there.
When the Saracens invaded Sicily, they fled, crossing the narrow “Strait of Messina,” the nearest route to the mainland. Seeking safer regions, they settled in Guardia, and thus the Paterno clan of Castelmezzano began.
Page 2: (image) The coat of arms of Castelmezzano is represented by a bareback horse ridden by two knights, one holding a small flag on a staff, the other a long spear.