Saint Valentine

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St. Valentine was presented with the judge's blind daughter and told to restore her sight. If he succeeded, the judge vowed to do anything for Valentine. Placing his hands on her eyes, Valentine restored the child's vision.

Judge Asterius was humbled and obeyed Valentine's requests. Asterius broke all the idols around his house, fasted for three days, and became baptized with his family and the 44-member household. The now faithful judge then freed all of his Christian inmates.

St. Valentine's courage was unwavering, even in the face of death. He was later arrested again for continuing to try to convert people to Christianity. He went to Rome under the emperor Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II). According to the popular hagiographical identity and the first representation of St. Valentine, the Nuremberg Chronicle, St. Valentine was a Roman priest martyred during Claudius' reign. The story tells that St. Valentine was imprisoned for marrying Christian couples and aiding Christians persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Both acts were considered serious crimes. The relationship between the saint and emperor began to grow until Valentine attempted to convince Claudius of Christianity. Claudius raged and sentenced Valentine to death, commanding him to renounce his faith or be beaten with clubs and beheaded.

St. Valentine refused to renounce his faith and Christianity and was executed outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269. Other depictions of St. Valentine's arrests tell that he secretly married couples so husbands wouldn't have to go to war.

Whoever he was, Valentine did exist because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to St. Valentine. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius marked February 14 as a celebration of his martyrdom, which eventually evolved into the modern Valentine's Day we know today.

In Verona, where the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, Valentine's Day stretches into four days of festivities marked by free concerts in the Piazza dei Signori and heart lanterns lighting up the town. Inspired lovers can share their sentiments in a love-letter writing contest, while foodies can indulge in one of the many dinner specials offered by local restaurants.

Built by the Normans between the 9th and 10th centuries AD on the remains of a pre-existing prehistoric settlement, the historic center of Chiaromonte stands proudly on a rocky outcrop. The town, which has the shape of an amphitheater, is enriched by the Mother Church of San Giovanni. The name of the town, Chiaromonte, probably derives from the Latin "clarus mons", in reference to its dominant position, or very probably in relation to the appearance of the place, deforested and therefore free, "clarus", precisely.

The center's antiquity has evidence that traces human presence back to the Iron Age, with influence from Greek and Roman culture. For this reason, there are numerous Roman toponyms in different locations: Castrovetere, Cotura, Maldinaso, Savino, and Cozzocanino. These toponyms serve as a testament to the enduring influence of Roman culture in Chiaromonte.

The inhabited center of Chiaromonte developed immediately after the empire's fall after the abandonment of the ancient Roman settlement of Castrovetere. During the Middle Ages, Normans and Lombards built a fortress. Later, the feudal families Chiaromonte and Sanseverino took over and built the castle, now a former monastery, and the walls, with cylindrical and square towers.

A unique panorama can be admired from the remains of the Torre della Spiga, a trace of the ancient walls that surrounded the village, and the "castle-monastery" right in front of the entrance to the church of San Tommaso. At the time, it was used as a baronial castle, enlarged and embellished by the Sanseverino family (16th century).

Cuisine

In Chiaromonte, the local cured meats, particularly the excellent salami, are renowned for their unique flavors and are a must-try for any visitor.

Mushrooms and other undergrowth fruits are very common, often a delicious condiment for the precious homemade pasta. Typical local dishes are fusilli seasoned with sauce and fried breadcrumbs, "rascatielli" made with legume flour, and cicirielli, a mix of cereals prepared on the occasion of the feast of San Giuseppe.

Chiamonte is one of the municipalities where you can discover the golden nuggets of Serrapotamo, the famous Lucanian white truffles, along a food and wine itinerary that involves six small villages of Pollino, belonging to the suggestive Serrapotamo valley.

Churches

Several churches are in the village of Chiaromonte or in its immediate vicinity. All of them are worth visiting because they contain interesting artistic elements.

The mother church of San Giovanni Battista, with three naves, was presumably built between the 11th and 12th centuries. The body of the blessed Giovanni da Caramola has been on display in the right nave since 26 August 2003.

The church of San Tommaso Apostolo has a large marble altar, which comes from the Abbey of Santa Maria del Sagittario—of which the bell tower remains standing, although in ruins—a wooden crucifix (14th century), a holy water stoup, and a baptismal font from 1574, as well as two precious 17th-century paintings attributed to the school of Luca Girodano.