Badolato
municipality of badolato
(Province of Catanzaro)
Altitude
m. 240 s.l.m.
population
2974 (350 nel borgo)
patron saint
Sant’Andrea Avellino, 10 Novembre
turist information
Delegazione Municipale – Badolato Marina
Tel. 0967/814217
C.A.T. / Centro di Accoglienza Turistica
Palazzo Gallelli – Badolato Borgo
Pro Loco Badolato APS
FB: InfoTurismo Badolato
infoturismobadolato@gmail.com
+39 3384709111
The ancient name of “Badulato” or “Vadulatu” first appears within historic land records as far back as 1114 A.D. The Count Goffredo di Loritello and his mother Berta donated some of the “fields of Badulati” to the monks of the famous Carthusian monastery Saint Stefano del Bosco, in the Calabrian town of Serra San Bruno. The fiefdom of Badolato, whose origin is believed to date back to around 1080 — by the Norman nobleman of Calabria Roberto il Guiscardo — would have initially belonged to a family that took its name from it. We then have details of the noble families that ruled the land from the beginning of the Angevin dynasty (1266, Carlo I).
Filippo de Badulato was named lord of this land after receiving it as a donation in 1254. He remained in possession of the estate until 1272, when he was removed from power by Pietro Ruffo, the Count of Catanzaro, even though Filippo had petitioned to the king in 1270 to address Ruffo’s harassment. Apart from a sixteen-year interruption from 1280-1296 (when the fiefdom was temporarily assigned to Admiral Ruggiero di Lauria), the Ruffo family remained lords of the barony of Badolato until 1439, in a direct lineage. It was then ruled by Loise d’Arena (1439-1451), from his marriage to Giovanna Ruffo, and then came the turn of Marcantonio Ruffo (1451-1453). From 1454 to 1578, the fiefdom was passed to the Toraldo family, who inherited it through the marriage of Margherita Ruffo and Giorgio Toraldo. The Toraldo’s were a key noble family in Calabria, from Tropea and Badolato, who took part in the Lepanto Battle of 1571 A.D. Finally, it was the turn of the Ravaschieri family, who held it until the abolition of feudalism. (Source: Cultural Association “La Radice”)
History
The most reliable, widely shared, and least disputed hypothesis as to the origins of Badolato’s name has emerged from the studies conducted by the Cultural Association “La Radice.” The term Badolato is said to be composed from two Latin words, “vadum” and “latum,” meaning a wide and convenient ford. This refers to the rivers which surrounded the village, and suggests that the ford crossings here were comfortable and easy to traverse — better than other local sites due to the water and terrain conditions.
There are also a few that hypothesize that Badolato, also known as Vadolato in the past, means “by the side of the Vodà river.” In fact, bordering the base of the hill that the village stands on, you’ll find the waters of the Vodà river.
Some also believe that it may derive from the term “vuda” (in italian “biodo”) which has many streams. One of these — as mentioned — borders the village to the south, another to the north, and others, including the Gallipari river (the modern name for what was possibly the ancient Elleporo), which all flow throughout the territory.
Additionally, the name of Badolato could derive from the German word “bad” or “bado,” (meaning “bath” such as in Baden, Badenweiler, etc.) together with “lato” — either from the Latin “latus” which means “side,” or less probably, from the name of a fish that lives in the waters of the Nile. Some also consider the Russian word “voda,” possibly imported with the Byzantine civilization, which means “water” -hence the name of the stream “Vodà”.
A final theory, according to the writer and historian Barrio, is that the term Badolato derives from the Greek verb “bàdomai” meaning “worthy of affection.” (Source: Cultural Association “La Radice”)
Typical dish with ancient flavours: a soup with – rice, wild fennel herbs and ‘ndurha (traditional salami)
Pana ‘e maju / Homemade bread with elderflower
Pasta ‘e casa cu’ a carna ‘e crapa / Fresh homemade pasta with goat-meat sauce
Lamberhi al sugo / Cooked snails with tomato sauce
“Pasta e lamberhi” / Pasta with tomato sauce and cooked snails
Traditional and typical dessert “Mastazzòla ‘e vinicòttu”
Yellow peach of Badolato
Wild artichokes preserved in extra virgin olive-oil
SPRING
Easter week in the old village of Badolato with traditional and ancient religious processions. The most important events include:
- Good Friday Devotional Procession on the Holy Friday afternoon
- Penitential Procession of Sorrowful Mysteries on the Holy Saturday
- Easter of Resurrection with the traditional “Cumprunta” on Easter Sunday morning
Easter Monday / Pasquetta: “Slow & Folk” itineraries in the village with slow cultural tours, food and wine tasting, folk music and conviviality
May 1st / Primo Maggio: “Slow & Folk” itineraries in the village with slow cultural tours, food and wine tasting, folk music and conviviality, tasting of typical and traditional “pana ‘e maju” (bread with elderflower)
June 2th / “Path of slowness and beauty”: an eco-cultural day in the old village with slow cultural tours, food and wine tasting, folk music and conviviality
June 13th / The traditional procession of St. Anthony of Padova, starting from the ancient Franciscan Convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli
SUMMER
International Refugee Day / Badolato “Village of welcome and solidarity”: the Municipality of Badolato – in partnership with CIR Onlus – has been hosting an important welcoming project for migrants, asylum seekers and political refugees, since 1997/1998 (June-July)
Religious Feast of “Maria SS.ma della Provvidenza” with traditional procession (first week of July)
Festival of Calabrian Folk Music (July)
Religious celebrations in honor of “Madonna della Sanità” with traditional procession and civil ceremony (last Sunday of July – first Sunday of August)
Sports Festival in Badolato Marina (first week of August)
Religious celebrations in honor of “Vergine SS.ma Assunta” with traditional procession and civil ceremony (13-14-15 August)
“StraBadolato” – Sport event in Badolato Marina / Town running-race (August 14th)
Artistic, cultural and musical festival “Insegui L’Arte” (August)
Tarantella Festival of Badolato (last week of August)
“Ciak si beve!”: exhibition dedicated to cinema and short films (mid September)
AUTUMN
Mediterranean food and wine tours
Wine itineraries through vineyards, community harvests, tastings and wineries
Oil itineraries among olive groves, participation at the traditional olive harvest, oil tasting and visits at local oil-mills (end of September, October, November)
Traditional procession of “Madonna della Vittoria / Madonna del Rosario” (first week of October) in memory of the historical and victorious Battle of Lepanto (October 7, 1571)
November 10 – Religious feast of the patron-saint Sant’Andrea Avellino, with a traditional procession through-out the streets of the village with the local band “tamburinari” (drummers) of Badolato
“Summer of San Martino” – with wine tasting and visiting the ancient “catoja” (wine cellars) of the old village (November 11th)
Religious celebrations in honor of St. Catherine V.M. of Alexandria with the traditional procession and civil ceremony (November 25th)
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception with religious and civil ceremony (December 8th)
WINTER
“The Magic of Christmas in Badolato”: a monthly schedule of Christmas events in the old village and in Badolato Marina
“Presepe Vivente” / Living Nativity Scene “Badolato is a cradle for you”: Travelling scenic performance through-out the streets of the village (between Christmas and New Year’s Eve)
Traditional tour of the Baby Jesus Statue in Badolato amongst houses and families (December 30-31 and January 01)
Epiphany: intercultural meeting, solidarity and social event, for families and children (January 6th)
National Day of Dialect and Local Languages (mid-January)
DURING THE YEAR
Artistic and cultural schedule of “Teatro Comunale” by Compagnia Teatro del Carro / Artistic Residency “MigraMenti” of Badolato Marina
Children’s library with permanent workshops for families and children
