Rocca Gloriosa is a municipality in the province of Salerno, situated north of Mount Bulgheria, near the valleys of the rivers Bussento and Mingardo. The medieval historic center is characterized by narrow alleys and winding streets and steep stairways. From the area of the castle it is possible to have a magnificent view over the whole Gulf of Policastro.
The discovery in the area of finds from the Bronze Age and Iron Age evidence that the area was inhabited since ancient times. The foundation of the first settlement dates back to the V century B.C. and shortly later it was surrounded by a fortified wall, which, however did not include the area of the necropolis. The discovery of a sort of statute attest that, between the IV-III centuries B.C., the inhabitants of the center were already granted of a certain autonomy. In the I century B.C., a new settlement was founded on a rocky cliff outcrop, located not far from that pre-existing centre, but this new one retained its identity only until the IV century A.D., when it was prey of the troops led by General Stilicone, who forced the inhabitants to move back into the original urban core. The two peoples, united, built a third settlement around an existing church. Here, in VI century, a castle was built during the Lombard domination to defend the inhabitants from the invasion of the Bulgarians. In the XIII century the town submitted the domain of the Swabians. The territory, like most of the other nearby localities, in the course of its history suffered several invasions by various populations.
Attractions:
- the XVII century Church of San Nicola, which features a very linear façade and a tympanum. The building is flanked by a Bell Tower and features a square base divided into three parts, which tend to gradually decline towards the top;
- the XI century Church of Saint John the Baptist, which has often been subject to alterations over the centuries, the last one in the second half of the XVIII century;
- the Church entitled to the Glorious, the oldest in the town. Built in year 412, it was seriously damaged under the siege of French troops and during an earthquake in the XIX century;
- the IX century Monastery of San Mercurio;
- the Church of Santa Maria dei Martiri;
- the Chapel of St. Angelo.
- the Church of the Rosary;
- the Civic Archaeological Museum;
- the Fountain of the three fonts;
- the medieval Town Centre;
- the remains of the Castle;
- Palazzo Cavalieri;
- Palazzo de Caro;
- Palazzo Balbi.