Ispani

A small hill town, it rises at 287 m above sea level and probably dates back to the 10th century: it is assumed that the first settlements arose following the Saracen raids. The people who lived along the coasts of the Gulf of Policastro, to better protect themselves from incursions by pirates and consequent looting, preferred to move to the mountains and hills, building small aggregates of dwellings, which today represent enchanting jewels immersed in nature, one of the which is just Ispani. The town presents itself with houses perched and linked together by a labyrinth of narrow streets, alleys, small squares and steep climbs, as if to bear witness to its function as a "fort". Originally, on the site where the current Municipality of Ispani stands, small urban aggregates with different names always stood, such as Sant'Agata, Fòrli, Casale delli Spani, which makes it possible to assert that the area was not continuously inhabited, but only as a refuge from possible dangers, not least malaria, after which it was abandoned and people returned to live on the sea. Ispani, properly called, was born around 1490: it was built by the Carafa family who were its Lords. The current name of the town is due to the Catalan domination in southern Italy: it was the Spanish viceroys of Naples who built the watch towers, from Punta degli Infreschi to Sapri. Starting from the birth of the republic, Ispani was recognized the administration of two of its fractions, Capitello and San Cristoforo: Capitello looks like a handkerchief of houses lying between gardens and orchards, while San Cristoforo is immersed in the green of a hill from which you can admire the whole arc of the Gulf of Policastro. The territory is characterized by hills that connect to the Southern Apennines mountain range: it also has woodland areas rich in oaks, hornbeams and beeches, while the undergrowth offers wild strawberries, wild asparagus and mushrooms, especially porcini mushrooms.

A small hill town, it rises at 287 m above sea level and probably dates back to the 10th century: it is assumed that the first settlements arose following the Saracen raids. The people who lived along the coasts of the Gulf of Policastro, to better protect themselves from incursions by pirates and consequent looting, preferred to move to the mountains and hills, building small aggregates of dwellings, which today represent enchanting jewels immersed in nature, one of the which is just Ispani. The town presents itself with houses perched and linked together by a labyrinth of narrow streets, alleys, small squares and steep climbs, as if to bear witness to its function as a "fort". Originally, on the site where the current Municipality of Ispani stands, small urban aggregates with different names always stood, such as Sant'Agata, Fòrli, Casale delli Spani, which makes it possible to assert that the area was not continuously inhabited, but only as a refuge from possible dangers, not least malaria, after which it was abandoned and people returned to live on the sea. Ispani, properly called, was born around 1490: it was built by the Carafa family who were its Lords. The current name of the town is due to the Catalan domination in southern Italy: it was the Spanish viceroys of Naples who built the watch towers, from Punta degli Infreschi to Sapri. Starting from the birth of the republic, Ispani was recognized the administration of two of its fractions, Capitello and San Cristoforo: Capitello looks like a handkerchief of houses lying between gardens and orchards, while San Cristoforo is immersed in the green of a hill from which you can admire the whole arc of the Gulf of Policastro. The territory is characterized by hills that connect to the Southern Apennines mountain range: it also has woodland areas rich in oaks, hornbeams and beeches, while the undergrowth offers wild strawberries, wild asparagus and mushrooms, especially porcini mushrooms.