Points of Interest:
Monuments: There are some ancient remains of a villa dating from the period of the Roman Empire.
Churches (& other religious sites): The Church of Santa Maria Scala Coeli was built by the Cistercians in 1227 on the site of an earlier structure. It is approached through an atrium and a 17th century carved wooden door. The interior has 3 aisles divided by pillars. There is a 16th century Renaissance oil-painted icon depicting Christ and the 12 Apostles.
The Cistercian Abbey of Santa Maria del Leucio, dating from 1500, is today in ruins.
The Byzantine Church of San Giovanni Battista was founded in 1505 to serve the new Albanian settlers. It has a 17th century wooden door decorated with carved mythical figures of sirens, winged griffons, two-headed eagles, emblems, etc. The interior contains a carved 17th century walnut wood choir and 17th century lecterns carved from chestnut. There are some 16th century tables, one depicting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, attributed to the painter Marco Pino (1522-1579). In one of the chapels is a 16th century sculpted Madonna and Child.
The Gothic sanctuary of the Madonna del Monte (Santas Maria del Monte) dates to the late 14th / early 15th century. Among the treasures is a 15th century Gothic sculpture of the Madonna and Child. In the apse near the greater altar, there is a 16th century, oil painted table depicting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary with a Glory of Angels and Apostles, a work of Pietro Negrone. There is a fine choir of carved walnut.
In the Church of San Basilio Abate e San Benedetto are some 18th century painted tables and some fine Baroque gild-work.
In the Church of Santa Maria della Misericordia is an icon of the Teotokos created by the Greek painter Fatima Paula in 1973. The figure is decorated in silverwork by the Greek goldsmith Costapulos
The chapel of Madonna della Concezione is a largely Byzantine inspired structure. Its treasures include a 1785 fresco of the Immacolata.
The ruined 13th century oratory of San Leonardo di Sassone, contains several works of art including a 15th century fresco.
The Grotta della Madonna is so-named because of a local tradition claiming that a mysterious bust of the Virgin was discovered there.
Culture: The town still follows the Greek-Byzantine-Albanian rite, and is part of the diocese of Lungro.
Festivals/Feasts/Events: Festival of San Francesco– 2nd Sunday after Easter.
Festival and fair of the Madonna della Misericordia– last Sunday in May.
Festival of Santa Maria del Monte (Festa e Shën Mërisë së Malit)- July 20. Drawing visitors from other Albanian towns, the festival includes traditional songs, dances, and costumes.
Festival and fair of the town’s patron saint, San Giovanni Battista, occurs on the last Sunday in August.
Acquaiuolo: a traditional water-seller in old Sicily. A common sight on hot days, the acquaiuolo would set up small brass-mounted tables (about 2 feet long by 18 inches wide by 18 inches high) with large water-jugs shaped like ancient Greek vases.
Acqualadrone (ME): Former name for Acquarone (ME).
Acquappesa (CS): A commune of Calabria, in the province of Cosenza.
Former Names (if any): Casaletto or Casalicchio
Region: Calabria │ Province: Cosenza
Coordinates: Lat. 39°29’40″N/Long. 15°57’10″E.
Location/Setting: Located 51 km NW of Cosenza, it is situated on a hill near the coastal highway #80 just S. of Cetraro. The communal territory contains the hot springs of Terme Luigiane (alt.146 m.), whose waters, rich in sulfur and iron, are used to treat rheumatic ailments. Part of the Comunità Montana dell’Appennino Paolano. Part of the Regione Agraria n. 9 – Montagna Litoranea di Paola.
Alt.: 80 m.
Area: 14.43 km².
Population: 2,037 (2006e)
Pop. Density: /km².
Frazioni & Localities: Intavolata, Pantana-Santa Rosalia, San Iorio, Terme Luigiane.
Tel. Prefix: 0982
ISTAT: 87020
Name of Inhabitants: Acquappesani.
Patron Saint(s): (Feast Day:).
History: This commune is of relatively recent origins. It appears to have arisen in the late 17th or early 18th century under the name of Casaletto or Casalicchio. The area, however, has been inhabited since ancient times. Archaeologists have discovered Greek pottery dating from the 4th and 3rd centuries BC.
In 1927, it was annexed by the neighboring commune of Guardia Piemontese, but became autonomous again in 1943.
Major earthquakes struck in 1854, 1887, and 1905.