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In Republican
times , Atrani was seat of the Diet that elected the Dukes, and of the
Chapel Palatina where the investiture took place , the central
CHURCH OF ST.
SALVATORE DÈ BIRECTO
Dating from the X
century it contains:: a Tomb Stone of the XV century portraying a
Noble- woman of Atrani , Filippa Napolitano and a plate of marble of
the XII century showing two peacocks , symbols of vanity and pride ,
typical of the Amalfitan Nobles.
The Church also
has important Bronze Doors, a gift of the Noble Atranese
Pantaleone Via recta , actually conserved in the Collegiate. Fused in
the east in 1087, the doors have panels inlaid with silver that portray
Christ , the Madonna, SS.Sebastiano and Pantaleone ...
Adjacent the tiny
Church of the Immacolata...
Back in the
square , following via dei Dogi , the main road , we are now in the
heart of the town...
All around the
kaleidoscope of white houses , arches and flowering balconies.. with our
noses pointing upwards we reach largo Vollaro di Lieto, where we find:
the Prota Mansion, the ex-residence of one of the most wealthy
families of Atrani and the Ruins of an old pasta factory...
After the
grandeur of the Ducal era and the exotic commerce, the dye works and the
manufactures of fabrics kept the town alive and even made it famous ,
above all in Calabria...
The other
activity important for the economy of Atrani was the fishing : the
excellent anchovies , an activity that made the Atranesi famous.... and
the ridicule of the Amalfitans who called them the "Anchovy eaters"...
The ancient
maritime spirit lives on in the delicious Sagra delle Alici (at
the end of August) , in the ability of the old fishermen to read the
weather , it was at Atrani that many proverbs were born with witty
rhymes, a sort of popular meteorology still valid today...
METEREOLOGIC CUNNINGS
QUANNO O MARE S'APPANTANA: O E' SCEROCCO O E' TRAMONTANA
When the sea forms dark puddles: either a sultry wind or the North wind
will blow.
'A MACULATA
CONCEZIONE SETTE DUCATE PE' NO' SMIRAGLIONE
On the 8th of December the fishermen have meagre spoils and even
the least esteemed fish is expensive.
VIENTE 'E MAISTO
'O PESCE DINT'O CANISTO
A north -west wind puts a glut of fish in the baskets.
ARIA 'E SCEROCCO
'O PESCE NUN TOCCA
A sultry wind and the fish do not bite
A MATALENA 'A
MENAITA DINT'O MUNAZENO
On S. Mary Magdalen ( 22nd July ) the anchovies finish and the nets are
put away in the sheds
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