The most evocative product of the Spanish presence in Somma Vesuviana is the Catalanesca, a grape originating from Catalonia, the result of a vine that arrived on the slopes of Somma-Vesuvius at the behest of Alfonso I of Aragon in the 15th century. On Saturday, February 3rd (at 4:30 PM), a conference will be held presenting the studies carried out on the presence of the Aragonese in Somma Vesuviana. It is no coincidence that the meeting, which will be attended by numerous representatives from the academic world, will take place in the 15th-century castle of Lucrezia d'Alagno, lover of King Alfonso, perhaps the only woman portrayed on the bas-relief of Alfonso's triumphal arch at the Maschio Angioino. But the whole town is imbued with the Aragonese spirit.
The Administration led by Mayor Salvatore Di Sarno aims at the full cultural promotion of the territory. The studies and activities that were the subject of a conference held in Somma Vesuviana in 2019 are in the unpublished book: 'The Fortifications of Casamale and the Aragonese presence in Somma Vesuviana'. This is not just the publication of any book, but the publication of results and studies on the presence of the Aragonese on our territory. It is an essential work to promote in the best way the cultural heritage of Somma Vesuviana. Certainly, the study activity conducted, also in situ, will be essential for future promotional initiatives with Spanish entities, even in proximity to popular events that will see the historic center of Somma Vesuviana as the protagonist, where we have important testimonies dating back to the Aragonese era. A hard, constant work, carried forward with tenacity by Franco Mosca, president of the ProLoco of Somma Vesuviana, explains Rosalinda Perna, councilor for Culture of the Municipality of Somma Vesuviana.
The speakers will be: Antonietta Iacono, professor of Latin, medieval, and humanistic literature at Federico II University; Nicoletta Rozza, researcher in the Department of Humanistic Studies at Federico II; Francesco Storti, Medieval History at Federico II. The event was conceived and realized by 'The other face of SommaVesuvio - History, Culture, Art, Traditions', sponsored by the ProLoco of Somma Vesuviana, by the Municipality of Somma Vesuviana, by the government of Spain, by the 'Luigi Vanvitelli' University, by the Department of Literary, Linguistic Studies of the Oriental University of Naples.