Anzi
A place to discover
Located at 1,008 metres above sea level in the Lucanian Apennines Val D'Agri Lagonegrese National Park, Anzi is the third highest municipality in Basilicata, after Pietrapertosa and Marsicovetere. From the centre of the village, you can admire a unique panorama: the surrounding valley and the picturesque Lake Ponte Fontanelle, also known as the Camastra dam, perfect for fishing enthusiasts. On its northern side is the famous 'submerged bridge', an ancient stone bridge that disappears during the dam's floods.
In fact, it has ancient roots dating back to the Iron Age. The town flourished under the Greeks as a centre for ceramic production, as evidenced by the numerous archaeological finds kept in prestigious museums, including the British Museum in London. Among these, a triangular tombstone confirms that the village was originally known as 'ANXIA', a very rich and powerful city.
Visiting the historic centre, you will encounter several places of worship of considerable artistic interest. Among these, the Romanesque Church of Santa Lucia, dating back to around 1200, stands out. It houses several works, including a painting of Saint Lucia, a painting of the Dead Christ, and a painting depicting the Virgin of Carmel attributed to Pietrafesa. the Mother Church of San Donato, patron saint of Anzi, which houses a representation of the Death of the Virgin and the precious painting of the Sale of Indulgences for the Souls in Purgatory; the Church of Sant'Antonio (1587), which houses the majestic altarpiece with the painting of the Coronation of the Virgin attributed to Pietrafesa.
On the summit of Monte Siri stands the 16th-century Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Seta, built on the site of a previous place of worship, which houses a valuable cycle of frescoes painted in 1559 by the Lucanian painter Giovanni Todisco and dedicated to the Stories of the Life of Christ and the Virgin Mary. It is unique in the region for its size, stylistic modernity and extraordinary state of preservation.
The summit of Monte Siri is also home to one of Italy's most important centres for scientific and astronomical dissemination: the Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory, with a 12-metre dome and an advanced observatory with a 420 mm reflecting telescope. Inside the planetarium, it is possible to observe around 4,500 stars, constellations of the Zodiac and celestial phenomena such as supernovae and nebulae, including through virtual reality viewers. The observatory is a reference point for national and international scientific events that have seen the participation of astronauts and scientists from NASA, ESA and ASI. It offers educational activities for schools, workshops, guided tours and seminars for all audiences, as well as summer camps dedicated to astronomy and the discovery of nature. The aim is to promote knowledge of the area, scientific culture and a passion for the sky, making Anzi a unique destination for educational and scientific tourism.
Of particular interest is the permanent multi-scene nativity scene, the fourth largest in Europe, created in 1997. Located in the Oratory of the Rectory, it consists of ten caves that recount the stages of Jesus' life. The play of light and the accuracy of the details make the experience absolutely engaging and original.
Among the illustrious figures who have made this village famous throughout the world is Anthony Joseph Celebrezze, born Antonio Giuseppe Cilibrizzi, (Anzi, 1910 - Cleveland, 1998). He moved to the United States with his family at the age of two, grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and turned poverty into his weapon of redemption, graduating with a law degree and eventually becoming Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, the first Italian-American to hold a ministerial position in the United States. A leading figure in important social reforms, he was appointed federal judge in 1965, a role he held until his death.
One of the most emblematic figures in the history of Anzi emigration in the 20th century was Giuseppe Di Melfi (Anzi, 1897 – New York City, 1971). He emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of seven, where he made a name for himself in the world of sport under the name Young Zulu Kid, becoming the best American boxer of his era in the flyweight category. The peak of his career came with his memorable fight against the legendary British champion Jimmy Wilde, when he came close to winning the world title in a match that went down in boxing history.
Finally, we must not forget the magistrate Michele D'Aquino (Anzi, 1870 – Rome, 1956), one of the most influential institutional figures that Anzi produced between the 19th and 20th centuries: he was president of the Court of Naples, first president of the Court of Appeal of Bologna, section president of the Court of Cassation and senator of the Kingdom.