In Campania the islet mentioned by Pliny the Elder is located in front of the mouth of the Sarno. The appeal of Archeoclub d'Italia
Azzurro (Pres. Sede Torre Annunziata – Campania): “Today the islet cited by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia as “Petra Herculis”, located in front of the mouth of the Sarno, is in a state of decay. In Roman times it housed a sanctuary dedicated to Hercules, of which some fragments of wall in opus reticulatum are evidence. Today it is in a state of decay and abandonment”.
However, Italy's cultural tourism is in turmoil and is preparing for the post-Covid era that will come sooner or later.
And today everything live, at 18pm, on the Facebook page Archeoclub of Italy with another wonderful Webinar that will see the participation of Isabella Del Frate, art historian, Carla Sisto Canali, archaeologist and President of the Archeoclub d'Italia headquarters in Formello, Stella Mitri, art historian, restorer. In the ancient church of Formello, frescoes from the 500th and 400th centuries were brought to light thanks to the restoration work promoted by Archeoclub. Restoration that is currently still underway!
“The islet of Rovigliano, located opposite the mouth of the Sarno, cited by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia as “Petra Herculis”, in Roman times housed a sanctuary dedicated to Hercules, of which some fragments of wall in opus reticulatum are evidence.
The myth tells that the demigod son of Jupiter, on his return from his tenth labor, passing through Campania, detached the top of Mount Faito and hurled it into the sea, thus giving rise to the islet, made up of limestone rocks, which has become a characteristic and evocative element of the panorama of Torre Annunziata.
We know from some documents that in the 10th century a Benedictine monastery dependent on the church of Stabia was built there, that several monastic orders succeeded one another, and that the name “Petra Herculis” was replaced by the name “Insula Rubiliana”. One hypothesis traces the new toponym, from which the current Rovigliano is derived, to the gens Rubellia, owner of the islet and the coastal territory in front”. This was stated by Mirella Azzurro, President of Archeoclub d’Italia, branch of Torre Annunziata in Campania.
“Abandoned by the monks (probably in 1407), the rock remained uninhabited for a long time until 1564 when the Spanish viceroy built a watchtower where the monastery had previously stood – continued Azzurro – to defend the coast from Saracen pirate raids. This defensive role remained active until the Napoleonic period. After the unification of Italy, the islet was abandoned by the State, which decided to sell it to private individuals.
Until the beginning of the twentieth century, there were two towers on the rock connected by passages, a larger one with three floors, and a smaller one with two floors. Today only a part of the large tower remains standing, not without charm despite the neglect and abandonment”.
And today, Friday March 5th there is an event not to be missed.
At 18 pm, live on the Archeoclub d'Italia Italia | Facebook page, Carla Sisto, President of the Archeoclub d'Italia branch of Formello, Isabella Del Frate, art historian who also directs numerous restoration interventions, Stella Mitri author of the restoration of Formello, will give life to a truly unique WeBinar.
Article published on March 5, 2021 - 15pm
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