SHARRYLAND
Rapone, the land of fairy tales
A village nestled in the mountains of northern Basilicata, the Vulture not far away and curious local folklore characters who keep us company during the visit. Rapone, unforgettable village!
Where is
A small village in the Vulture Melfese
838 meters above sea level and about as many inhabitants, narrow alleys and stone houses, no less than 7 churches and a square with an ancient fountain offering a spectacular view over the Ofanto Valley and the Vulture Melfese… Rapone is a small village in the Lucanian hinterland, near the border with Campania, unique for the mission it has embraced: to safeguard and spread folklore and traditional oral tales.
Why it's special: the Fairy Tale Village
U Scazzamauriedd, A Mana Longh, A Masciara, U Scorciaman, U Lup Cumunal… These are the magical and eerie figures that have populated the collective imagination for centuries. The entire village has come together with the aim of keeping alive the stories passed down through generations in the rugged local dialect. In fact, these tales have become its symbol, the most authentic expression of its identity.
Don't miss: where and when to discover Rapone's fairy tales
All around the village, there are 5 sound installations dedicated to the 5 fairy tale characters. For example, you can meet u Scazzamauriedd, a mischievous elf with a red hat, in the playground of the Villa Comunale. There is also a wonderful interactive museum that both children and adults will love: its name is evocative: C.E.R.A. una volta ("Once upon a time"). Above all, there is a packed calendar of events celebrating fairy tales, including two main festivals (in August and December) and even a marathon! Finally, don’t miss the magical Soffione—if the wind blows, it just might carry your wishes to someone who can grant them.
A bit of history
In the 1600s, Giovan Battista Basile, the pioneer of the fairy tale genre, passed through Rapone and was enchanted by the oral tradition stories. He collected them in a book, “Lo Cunto de li Cunti”, and it was precisely this book that inspired the great European fairy tale writers—Perrault, Andersen, and the Brothers Grimm! Petrosinella is just one example, immortalized in a large mural in the village.
Between sacred and profane, a village united around its roots
This precious collective effort to reclaim its roots—started in 2010—also includes more recent history: “Come eravamo” is a small permanent exhibit that lets you step into a village house left exactly as it was after World War II. Finally, the religious celebrations are deeply felt in the village, especially the feast of the patron saint, San Vito Martire (June 15), featuring floral decorations, a procession, and the traditional Blessing of the Bread.
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