19 Nicastro - Tropea - Family Search Day 2

Day 2 of the “Great Alcaro Family Search” began in the Nicastro part of Lamezia Terme. After a little bit of exploration including the Nicastro Cathedral, we found our way to the Nicastro Town Hall - looking for family records of Denise’s grandmother’s family - the Costanzas. We were not as successful as we were in Borgia. On the way out of the building we were stopped by a man who offered to give us a tour of the main room where the local government convenes. It was quite beautiful. Afterwards, we began a long trek on via Santa Lucia, past the Statue of Garabaldi, past the entrance to the Old Jewish Quarter - and then weaving through narrow streets and up steps, and up up up the hill to the ruins of the Norman Swabian Castel of Nicastro. Tired and hearts pounding, we contemplated our walk back down the hills, when a young doctor stopped by, and offered us a ride back down to Nicastro, but first with stops that offered expansive views of Nicastro and the Calabrian region. How could we say no?

A late lunch was followed up a trip to the huge Cemetery of Nicastro, where we explored the wide range of burial methods - from high end private mausoleums (with electricity and even telephones) to mausoleums with burial “drawers” stacked 7 high and dozens long - and with decorations from sparse painted names to formal name/date plaques - many with photographs of those buried therein - and so many flowers gracing the mausoleum drawers - to plots in the ground with simple crosses to mark those unable to afford something more enduring. It was a site to behold - but sadly, no Costanzos that seemed related to Denise.

While there was still sunlight left in the day, we headed southwest to the water and the town of Tropea. High up on a bluff overlooking the town is the Church of Santa Maria dell’isola, perhaps dating back to the 11th century. After visiting a few local stores, we headed back to Nicastro for dinner.