Accettura
Accettura is a town and "comune" in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the "comuni" of Calciano, Campomaggiore, Cirigliano, Oliveto Lucano, Pietrapertosa, San Mauro Forte and Stigliano. Geography. The territory is half covered by forests and pastures. Around the commune there are the Manche, Gallipoli, Montepiano, Vallefredda and Tempacortaglie mountains. Accettura is above sea level and is bordered to the north with the comunes of Campomaggiore and Calciano, to the east with Oliveto Lucano and San Mauro Forte, to the south with Stigliano and Cirigliano, and to the west with  Pietrapertosa (PZ). Etymology. The term, according to some, is derived from the theme of the word "acceptor", which in Latin is Accipiter. For others, it stems from the symbol of the country, to accept a small plot of land, etc. History. The first official mention of Accettura in documents was by Pope Nicholas II in 1060, who sent a document sent to the bishop of Tricarico, referring to it as "Achitorem". Situated in the Appennino Lucano in the Gallipoli-Cognato Park, was founded in the 10th century after the local population had abandoned three neighbouring villages. Nowadays the population work  mainly in agriculture, stock-breeding and tourism. In the tenth century was a feudal territory of Montescaglioso. In 1272, the town was completely destroyed by fire. Shortly after, Charles I of Anjou ordered its reconstruction. Throughout its history, Accettura was owned by several families: Bazzano, Della Marra, the Ponsiaco, the Carafa, and the Spinelli who held it until the late nineteenth century. Main sights. Natural attractions. Montepiano woods cover the territory of four communes in this region of Italy, Accettura, Cirigliano, Stigliano and Pietrapertosa. Inside were found numerous remains of fortifications, some of them as old as the third of  fourth century BC. The Museo dei culti arborei is located in Accettura and houses an exhibition of paintings, collections of photographs and video of the May festival in Accettura held every year, and tools typical of farming and forestry in the area. The museum offers texts and information on the anthropological and social rituals and the ancient traditions associated with the "cult of beautiful trees" of this area. Economy. The economy is mainly based on livestock and cereal crops (affecting 73% of cultivated land). The industrial sector is composed mainly of construction or manufacturing companies and is noted for its  production of bricks and tiles, produced traditionally in an old furnace. There are also food companies and a service sector, which relies primarily on retail sales of furniture and food. The town has numerous restaurants and primitive tourism.