In the lands shrouded in the mists of time, along the meandering banks of theBreath, two twin hills rise, eternal witnesses of a past now whispered by the wind. On the hill to the east, majestic and proud, stands Castelnuovo Cilento, while to the west, the echo of a lost time resonates among the ruins of what was ancient Torricelle. Once upon a time, Torricelle was a jewel of life and prosperity, a melting pot of intertwined destinies and dreams. Ancient documents, yellowed by time, tell of a community that flourished already in the year 1009, evidenced by ancient legal documents of disputes between abbots of nearby monasteries. But now only whispers and legends remain of this glorious village.
Chronicles lost to time tell of a dark period, marked by ruthless invasions and devastating raids by pirates. The inhabitants of Torricelle, once proud and indomitable, were forced to flee, seeking refuge in nearby villages, such as the lands of Stella Cilento and the nascent village of Bonafides, today known as Amalafede. The legend, guardian of the memory of the now disappeared village, paints a picture of a golden age, when the stronghold was a bastion of wealth and fertility. Located in a strategically invulnerable place, with its back protected by friendly settlements and an open front on an inaccessible valley, Torricelle was an impregnable fortress. There was a bell on site, with a powerful sound, which signaled the inhabitants in case of danger.
The story of Torricelle is also a story of pride and a tragic mistake. One night, in a fit of bold prank, the bell was rung for no reason, triggering the armed rush of the allies towards a non-existent enemy. The hilarity of that deception was short-lived, for when the real danger befell the country, no one responded to his cry for help. Thus, the stronghold fell, sacked and consumed by flames.
The ending of this story bifurcates into two legends. In one, the Duke of Torricelle, in desperation to save his family and his treasure, attempted to escape through a secret passage under the hill towards Castelnuovo. But fate was cruel: the tunnel collapsed, sealing their fate forever. In the other, the pirates, punished by their own greed, sank into the sea. Thus, among the ruins of Torricelle and in the seabed where the Alento river flows (Casal Velino), it is said that the spirits of those who once lived and died for their land reside, guardians of a treasure that has never seen the light of the day.
