Motta Santa Lucia, 22 May 1808. This is the context in which the historical re-enactment which has animated the mountain village of theLamezia Terme hinterland.
History on stage
It is a time of brigandage, but also of invasion by the French, with the Napoleonic army commanded by Joseph Bonaparte who two years earlier had occupied the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and forced the Bourbon to transfer the court to Palermo under the defense of the English. Calabria found itself at the center of the battle, becoming the site of bloody clashes, popular rebellions, and violent repression. In this historical context, the activity of the Brigands was fervent, and the French army attempted to repress them with bitterness and determination.
Motta Santa Lucia is the scene of a historic event that bears witness to bandit activity on the western slopes of Mount Reventino. The French captured two bandits, Carmine Janni and Domenico Bonacci, tried them, and took them to the prison in Cosenza. The event "History on stage" held in Motta Santa Lucia, it retraced the events in detail, involving the local population among the participants. The performance is part of the project presented by the municipal administration and funded by the National Fund for Historical Reenactment – Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities (Ministerial Decree 24 June 2020) 1808 – (Article 1, paragraph 2, letter a) of Conversion Law No. 120/2020) – 2022.
The past lives on in the village of Motta Santa Lucia
The event, whose artistic direction was curated by Dr. Nica Vespasiano and the scientific direction by Dr. Francesco Bevacqua, involved the students of the'IC Don Lorenzo Milani of Martirano. The children participated in an art workshop on the works of Horace Vernet, a French painter and photographer who lived in Italy, known for his portraits of bandits. The resulting material will later be permanently exhibited in the municipal buildings. The initiative was further enhanced by the presence of renowned actor and director Diego Verdegiglio, originally from the Marche region but artistically grounded in Calabria, as narrator.
The actor has long been committed to promoting and disseminating local traditions.History on stage” also availed itself of the participation of theAssociation Gioacchino Murat of Pizzo Calabro, which operates in historical reenactments throughout Europe and represents the 5th Royal Calabria Regiment founded by Joachim Murat. Alongside the event, a conference on the project was held in the multipurpose hall of the Municipality of Motta Santa Lucia. Mayor Ivano Egeo, Manuela Maletta (DSIC Don Milani di Martirano), Nica Vespasiano (artistic director), Francesco Bevacqua (scientific director), and Diego Verdegiglio (actor and director) attended the event.
(Photo Domenico Tropeano)
