The crucifix of Colonna – Trani, Italy

The crucifix of Colonna

The town of Trani presents inside numerous bays, one of these is: “Colonna”. In centuries past, here was built a monastery, which was the seat of Franciscan friars in the fifteenth century. They were particularly devoted to the worship of the cross.
At that time, every church in Trani had inside a crucifix, which was an object of worship widespread among the population.
They were hard times for cities on the Adriatic Sea, infested by of vessels of Turkish pirates. The so-called “pirates” also arrived at Trani and sacked the Monastery of Colonna. The booty was also a wooden cross, to be used as firewood. The ships took off, but one of them seemed to stop at the port: that was just carrying on board the stolen cross. A Turkish pirate gave a furious blow to the face of the crucified, and at some point much blood began to rise. Immediately the crucifix was launched at sea and the ship could finally move away from the coast.
After this great event which no one expected a great devotion spread to the crucifix of Colonna and continues to be today and it is celebrated on May 3.

Castell’Alfero and “G.B. De Rolandis” school

This is Castell’Alfero

This is our school

Our village – Castell’Alfero

The village is located in the lower Monferrato at 10 Km north of Asti, in the valley Versa. The inhabitants are about 2,800 and the municipality is 20 km ². I In 1774 in Castell’Alfero was born Giovan Battista De Rolandis creator of the Tricolore flag of Italy, while in 1808 was born in Callianetto Gianduja, the carnival mask symbol of Piedmont. Attractions include the eighteenth century Castle of the Counts Amici, the SS Peter and Paul’s Church, the twelfth century Madonna of the Snow Roman church, Ciabot ‘d Gianduja and the SS Annunziata Church. In the underground there is the Castle Museum ‘L Ciar important collection of evidence of past life, while in Serra Perno there is the Roseto of Surprise, with more than 500 roses. The main sport is tamburello.Castell’Alfero is twinned with the French town of Lafrançaise and participates in the Palio di Asti. The American musician and composer Alan Silvestri is Honorary Citizen of Castell’Alfero.

The city of Trani in Puglia

The city of Trani in Puglia overlooks the Adriatic sea and, with its 53000 inhabitants, it follows today its aspiration to be like a bridge between Europe and the Mediterranean sea. Its long old history has been characterized from a series of dominants. It was born like Roman site of transit towards Greece, it knew the barbaric occupations, above all longobards, the arrival of the Normans and the Swabians.

The city, as all the Puglia, was loved by FedericoII of Swabia, whose permanence is testfied by ” the castle “. Federico II favoured the expansion of the Jewish community present in the city, probably, some persecutions in action in Spain.

The Jewish ghetto, stands disorderly at shoulder of much ancient wall, knew between the ’200 and the ’400 a hard growth evidenced by foursynagogues present in historic centre.

The Spanish domination changed the city from community of shopkeepers and navigators in a centre of juridical studies, creating a tradition that lasts still today.

Trani is also known as the city of ” the houndred churchs”, where there is the roman cathedral famous all over the world. With the churchs, the squares and the monuments, we love to remember the ” villa “, a peculiar example in Italy of a nineteenth – century public garden with beautiful views on the sea.