Mare e Luna

Fiumefreddo Bruzio, situated on a plateau overlooking the azure Tyrrhenian Sea, presents a spectacle of solitary pride and ancient historical heritage as a medieval village nestled on the slopes of the mountains descending towards the sea. It is a treasure trove of history and invaluable cultural value. The town is naturally fortified and retains the characteristics of a fortified town, not only due to its natural position but also because of its "crenellated gate", which still serves as the main entrance to the inhabited center that has remained unchanged over time with its streets, churches, houses, and a remarkable historical and artistic heritage. From its enchanting cliffs or the numerous terraces overlooking the sea, the view stretches all the way to Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, the Calabrian coast, and the mountains of Cilento.

The origins of Fiumefreddo Bruzio are shrouded in the darkness of distant times. The first documentary evidence dates back to the Middle Ages (around 1000 AD), although it does not exclude coastal settlements in ancient times. It is believed that the location was chosen for its defensive characteristics. In 1054, the village, called Flumen Frigidum (Cold River - now called Fiume di Mare) due to the low temperature of its water, was conquered by Robert Guiscard, who gifted it to his brother, Roger the Norman. In 1098, Fiumefreddo came under the feudal authority of Simone da Mamistra, a vassal of Charles I of Anjou, and then passed to the French vassal, Giovanni de Flenis, in 1269, and later to Alfonso Sanseverino, a vassal of Charles II. Just a few years later, for rebelling against King Charles II, the fiefdom was confiscated and assigned to the viceroy of Calabria, Ferdinand d'Alarcon, who, in 1536, embellished the castle of Fiumefreddo according to the aesthetic canons of the time and built two towers called Golette outside the town walls. In the early 1800s, the castle was partially destroyed by the French, represented by Giuseppe Napoleon, the emperor's brother, and later by Joachim Murat. However, the inhabitants of Fiumefreddo formed secret communities to resist the invaders.

In 1860, the municipal council decided to add the name Bruzio to the original name of Fiumefreddo.

The town still preserves part of its medieval walls, as well as the Palazzi della Valle and Pignatelli (the former with differentiated construction phases and completed, like the latter, in the 17th century).

As the birthplace of the artist Giuseppe Pascaletti (1699-1757) and an important cultural and historical center, Fiumefreddo has a significant and well-preserved sixteenth-century settlement. It is also known for the nearby Abbey of S. Maria di Fontelaurato, the second most famous abbey of the Florense order after San Giovanni in Fiore. It was built and dedicated to Saint Domenica by Brazilian monks who had founded their ancient monastery nearby. After the Benedictines took over from the Basilian monks, they governed the abbey until 1035. In 1201, the church, destroyed by humidity, was rebuilt by Simone de Mamistra, the Prince of Fiumefreddo, and entrusted to Abbot Gioacchino da Fiore, with the name of the Abbey of Fonte Laurato.