Buccino
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Buccino (anc. Vulcei, Volceium, Volcei, Volcentium, Bulcinum) (SA): A commune (area: 65.5 km²; alt. 649 m) in the province of Salerno. Located 70 km E of Salerno, it is situated in the Campanian Apennines, to the left of the river Botta. Population: 5,926 (1991). The principal agricultural products are olive-oil and wine. Local industries include irrigation pump manufacturing and marble-quarrying. The center has also been developed as a resort.
History: In ancient times Vulcei, a city of the Volcenti, stood here. Under the Romans, it became a municipium, known variously as Volcentium, Bulcinum and Volceium. The Roman historian Livy mentions the Volcentes among those peoples who revolted against Rome to join Hannibal during the 2nd Punic War. The Carthaginians placed a garrison in the town for a short time. In 209 BC, the Volcentes renewed their alliance with the Romans. Pliny the Elder included them, under the name Volcentani, among the municipalities found in the interior of Lucania. The Greek geographer Ptolemy also mentioned this people, calling them Ulci or Volci. Inscriptions found by archaeologists on the site reveal that the population of the town referred to it as Volceii or Vulceii, while they called themselves Volceiani. The ancient town flourished during Imperial Roman times, retaining its status as a municipium. During the Middle Ages, the center remained a place of some importance, and was long held as a fief by the Caracciolo di Martina family.
Points of Interest: There are remains of a medieval castle.
The convent of Sant’Antonio includes a lovely cloister utilizing columns taken from an ancient Roman temples.
A bridge spanning the river Botta dates from Roman times.