Pietramontecorvino is a small town in the Northern Dauno Sub-Apennines one of the Authentic Villages of Italy. An area rich in history and with a great archaeological artistic and natural heritage, all to be discovered and enhanced.
It is an agricultural center of the Northern Dauno Sub-Apennine in Capitanata, whose original nucleus stands on a massive boulder and dominates the valley known as Guado degli Uncini bathed by the Triolo, a right tributary of the Candelaro. The ancient village still preserves intact the environmental and architectural features of the original medieval urban fabric.
According to tradition, the name derives from "la Preta": the large tuffaceous boulder on which the ancient nucleus stands, and from Monte Corvino, the nearby Byzantine town, an important bishopric that was finally destroyed in the 15th century. The population of Monte Corvino sought refuge in the caves of the Pietra and in the nearby towns of Motta and Volturino.
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THE FEAST.
The cult of St. Albert dates back to the 12th century; the town and diocese of Montecorvino have honored their bishop St. Albert with public worship since his death. Following the final destruction of Montecorvino, the cult of the saint was continued by the citizens of Pietra, Motta and Volturino, who had collected the legacy and historical memory of ancient Montecorvino.
In 1889, following a severe drought, the people invoked the help of the patron saint with processions within the town. Tradition has it that St. Albert, who appeared in a dream to two women of Pietra, advised them to make a penitential pilgrimage to the ruins of Montecorvino.
So on May 16, 1889, the people of Pietra, together with the faithful from Motta and Volturino, set out for Montecorvino with the statue of St. Albert carried on their shoulders. The much-desired rain arrived soon after returning to the village and, as the farmers themselves said, "more wheat than straw" was harvested that year.
Every year since then, on May 16, the statue of St. Albert has been carried in procession in Montecorvino to the ruins of the ancient Cathedral.
The statue of the saint is accompanied along the entire route by the characteristic "palij": long tree trunks covered with multicolored handkerchiefs, carried upright by a team of people. The palij was dressed (adorned) 3-4 days before the feast with handkerchiefs and shawls, held together with baby bands, collected house by house and which were returned after the feast.
A few days before the feast, the palij are decorated with handkerchiefs kept by the various groups; long colored ribbons and a plume are placed on top of each palij, characterizing the different teams of bearers. On the morning of May 16, the palij are carried to the wide rosary, the "oldest" palio will be carried in front and closest to the saint, the others will precede the procession.
In Montecorvino, after mass, a propitiatory type ceremony of the agricultural world, the blessing of the cardinal points, is also held. The statue of the saint is carried to the four sides of the ruins of the cathedral and positioned with its face turned toward the fields, a blessing is given to the crops.
To visit: the historic center known as "Terra Vecchia," the Gothic arch of Port'Alta, the old town with its characteristic narrow streets, stairways, sub-passages and small squares, the low comb-structured houses with basements carved into the rock; the Portella; the monumental complex consisting of the Norman-Angevin Tower, the Mother Church, the Ducal Palace and the hanging garden; the Church of the Rosary; the Church of the Annunziata; the Church of St. Francis; and the noble palaces: Celenza, Iannitelli, Massari-De Biase, Calarese. Also of note is the archaeological site of Monte Corvino, 5 km from Pietra.
