Il Carnival of Palomonte 2024 is an event full of colours, music and joy. L'event's audience it took place on Sunday 3 March, with the parade of allegorical floats and masked groups through the streets of the town. Seven allegorical floats paraded, created by local workers with great skill and originality. The floats represented various themes, including the Barbie movie, the Circus and current events. There were also numerous masked groups, who animated the parade with dances, songs and confetti. The party continued in the square with live music and DJ sets.
The event is also an important moment of tourism promotion for the country, which boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage.
Palomonte, a jewel in the Salerno hills
Palomonte is a municipality of approximately 3.702 inhabitants (data updated as of 31-03-2023) located in the province of Salerno, in Campania. It rises 550 meters above sea level sea, nestled on the hills that slope towards Cilento. Its position offers breathtaking views: on one side, the view opens onto the Tanagro valley, on the other, you can see the Tyrrhenian Sea shining on the horizon. The origins of Palomonte are ancient, dating back to Roman times. The village still retains traces of its past, such as the remains of an ancient castle and the surrounding walls. The historic center is a real jewel, with its narrow, winding alleys, stone houses and picturesque squares. Don't miss the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, dating back to the 12th century, and the Palazzo Baronial, a 16th century building that houses the Civic Museum. Palomonte is rich in traditions and folklore. Among the most important events we remember the Feast of San Michele Arcangelo, which is celebrated in September, and the Feast of the Madonna del Carmine, which is held in July. The local gastronomy is rich and tasty, with typical dishes such as "pasta ca' muddica", "laganella" and "soffritto".
What to do and see:
In addition to the historic center, Palomonte offers various attractions for visitors. In the surroundings of the village you can find trekking and mountain biking trails, picnic areas and caves to explore. Not far away you can also visit other interesting municipalities, such as Buccino, Oliveto Citra and Sant'Angelo a Fasanella.
The origins of the name Palomonte are uncertain and various theories have been formulated over time. Here are the main ones:
1. Derivation from “Palo”:
- The most widespread hypothesis is that the name derives from "Palo", a pre-Indo-European term meaning "rock" or "mountain". The position of the village, perched on a hill, would support this theory.
- To support this hypothesis, note that until 1862, the municipality was known only as "Palo". It was only with a Royal Decree of Vittorio Emanuele II that "mountain" was added to distinguish it from other places of the same name.
2. Derivation from “Palaios”:
- Another theory suggests that the name derives from the Greek “palaios”, meaning “ancient”. This term was often used to indicate localities of prehistoric or protohistoric origin.
- The presence of human settlements in the area since prehistoric times makes this hypothesis plausible.
3. Legends and popular traditions:
- There are also several legends and popular traditions that attempt to explain the origin of the name Palomonte.
- One of these legends tells that a certain Siculus, an ancient leader, founded two cities: Palo (today's Palomonte) and Saginara (today's Contursi).
- Another legend, however, refers to the presence of a dove (in Latin “palumbus”) that nested in a cave near the village.
Ultimately, there is no absolute certainty about the origin of the name Palomonte. The different theories formulated are all plausible and contribute to enriching the history and tradition of this ancient village.
