The history of Villafranca Tirrena contains many very interesting elements for anyone who intends to discover it.
It is a historic site in the metropolitan city of Messina, located in the heart of a fascinating region like Sicily. Here's what you need to know about the origins of the locality.
Because Villafranca Tirrena is called that
In ancient times, the municipality of Villafranca Tirrena was known under the denomination of Punishment. The historian fraction it was used as an autonomous municipality starting from 1825, keeping its first name until a few years later, i.e. in 1829. Then, it changed its name further into the current one, following the merger between the two small towns of Calvaruso and Saponara.
The origins of Villafranca Tirrena
It is not easy to date precisely the origins of Villafranca Tirrena. In any case, the first news should go back to 1271, when King Charles of Anjou entrusted the relative fiefdom to Pierre Gruyer. In the following decades, the part of the land belonged to various noble families, among which the Manna, Gioeni and Giovanni da Taranto dynasties stand out. In these parts, in 1399, the treasurer of the kingdom of Sicily, Nicolò Castagna, stayed, who then left his estate to his direct family descendants.
Other important moments in the history of Villafranca Tirrena
Another important step in the long history of Villafranca Tirrena dates back to 1548, when Giovanni Nicola Cottone bought the barony of what was then Bauso. Towards the end of the same century, the descendant Stefano gave a new life to the local castle, then the emperor Philip II made Bauso evolve from a fief to a county. In 1623, Giuseppe Cottone was appointed prince of Castelnuovo by the sovereign Philip IV of Spain.
During the eighteenth century, the local area was characterized by healthy air, combined with the cultivation of mulberry trees and orchards. Therefore, some documents speak of a town considered as a rest area between Palermo and Messina. Another passage of some importance is dated to 1819, when the local land and castle were put up for sale by Carlo Cottone, who sold them to the former judge of the Palermo Civil Court Domenico Pettini.
Villafranca Tirrena in the twentieth century
Over the decades, the current Villafranca Tirrena assumed an ever-growing charm. On the other hand, a place that yes overlooks Stromboli and the Aeolian Islands it could not be left in the background, being considered as a residence of absolute importance. As previously mentioned, the actual birth of the municipality is due to the merger between Calvaruso, Saponara-Villafranca, Bauso, Divieto and Serro. In 1952, the Saponara area returned to being a municipality in its own right.
During the XNUMXth century, industrialization ensured that the history of Villafranca Tirrena received a very important boost. The area became the perfect location for factories for plastics, rubber, textile fibers and cement. Since the beginning of the third millennium, the town has concentrated on tourism and commerce, being considered as an authentic pearl of Messina.
The general conclusions on Villafranca Tirrena
Overall, Villafranca Tirrena is a place steeped in history, elegance and charm. Those who travel to these parts can rediscover the Sicilian tradition and immerse themselves in a town where there are truly many treasures to discover.
Image of Aldo fiorenza, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
