LE ORIGINI
The La Terza family
The Terza family is one of the ancient families of Mormanno and wealthy owners of several large estates. They gave birth to several famous personalities of the history of Mormanno. who include: Minister Antonio, who in 1860 ordered the construction of the carriage road; Don Federico, the grandfather of Donna Maria; Don Ulisse and Don Costantino, both examples of a passionate patriotism; Don Rocco, mayor and member of the health commission during the period of the cholera epidemic, who fought in favor of a decent medical care of the patients and in favor of an honoring burial of the dead; Don Francesco, priest, master of ceremonies and procurator of the clergy, to whom the mother church owes its sacristy.
The country house
The “Casino di Donna Maria” owes its name to N.D. Maria La Terza, the daughter of Don Ciccillo, a lawyer in Mormanno. She married Pasquale Marragony, a young man from Naples, and had three sons, Augusto, Camillo and Lina. As a young widow, D. Maria had to raise her children by her own while administering the family property. The Casino was the country house where the family would spend their summer holidays to pick all the fruit in the orchard, looked after by Mrs. Teodora, who used to live there all year long with her family.
Il Borgo
It’s origin is still unknown today, although local historians assume its emergence at the beginning of the Longobard era, where probable traces of the first settlements can be imagined on the hill of the north coast dominating the underlying Lao river.
Its strategic location as well as the etymological root of the name confirm its derivation from the expression “Montes Miromannorum”, which already appears in a hagiography of St. Leoluca di Corleone, who used to go to Mormanno to meditate. In fact, according to some historians, the name Mormanno derives from the Germanic “Marimannus” or “Merimannus”, or refers to the “Arimanni”, which were mercenaries of Germanic origin who were granted some land located between “Gastaldo Laino” and the fortress of Papasidero. The name “Mons Arimannorum” does seem to refer to this village and reappears in several variations in many subsequent documents. “Miromagnum” is one variation that stands out and describes its position dominating the wide Mercure valley, which corrisponds to its current location.
Mormanno is considered as the gateway to the Parco del Pollino, a destination for mountain lovers enjoying outdoor activities, such as rafting, canyoning, mountain biking or trekking.