History of Solofra and the tanning of leather

An indigenous activity that gives great depth to the economic reality of Solofra

The old tannery district along the river before its relocation to the area industrial

Leather tanning was born in Solofra linked to its ancient activity which was pastoral.

It was favoured by the presence on site of plants containing tannin (chestnut, walnut, Turkey oak), rocks for the production of lime and of water . Initially It was practiced with rudimentary systems in open pits (called otters , sing or (burrelli ).

Tanning expanded because Salerno needed the tanned hides for its industry herd (wool and skins) and for the production of golden skins ( oropelle ) required by the trade of the great maritime Republic of Amalfi and why the Solofrana parish church of S. Angelo and S. Maria (the future Collegiate Church of St. Michael the Archangel ), which depended on the Bishop of Salerno, favored relations with the city.

THE Normans and Frederick II of Swabia protected with important privileges the tanning that took place on the banks of the Irno and the Saltera-flubio-rivus siccus (S. Severino-Solofra ).

In the period Angevin (between the 13th and The 14th century) there was a massive transfer of craftsmen Salerno of leather in Solofra favored by the fact that the feudal lord Francesca Marra became related in second marriage to a powerful Salerno family, the de Ruggiero tanners, who intensified the relationship with Salerno whose market became an important point of reference for Solofra.

Linked to these immigrations was the absorption of the parish church (which became the church of S. Angelo) by part of the community and its transformation into a church reception , which was an essential support for Solofra trade.

Further help to the Solofrana activity came from a fruitful relationship of nature artisan-mercantile-financial with Naples of which hinterland Solofra became part of the economic system and doctors were important points of reference Fasano (14th century) who obtained various prerogatives for Solofra trade.

Already in this period the community created an important article in its Statutes in which it regulated the use of water in the tanning tanks and its reuse (gross water).

The Aragonese (15th century) supported the industry herd of the whole area ( Giffoni-Salerno-Sanseverino-Solofra ) for which Solofra tanning underwent further development with the introduction of other artisanal forms of leather (parchments, footwear, ropes, gold , leather, wool) while trade opened up to other markets.

All this determined a demographic increase so much so that Solofra had an urban development of fifteen hamlets. Other achievements were: the construction of the Collegiate Church of St. Michael the Archangel , an economic event of great importance and the establishment of new Statutes .

Already at the beginning of the Five hundred the artisan reality of tanning and leather processing was very important.

Here a 16th century tannery has been reconstructed from the descriptions of notarial deeds.

In the Viceroyalty the Solofrana activity, while continuing to be at the centre of the local artisan reality, suffered the involutions of the southern economy especially in the lack of modern production structures and company organisation.

In the mid-18th century in Solofra there were 65 tannery shops and warehouses dislocated in the various farmhouses which employed over 600 people.

With there Neapolitan Revolution of 1799 the activity suffered considerable damage so much so that the tanneries were drastically reduced.

From M. De Maio, At the roots of Solofra , Avellino, 1997;