Known by his nickname Scannacornacchia, Nicola Spinosa was born in Castellana in 1752. He was a cruel brigand, an arrogant author of diverse homicides, including that of his wife and her lover.
By his actions he terrorised the towns and the countryside of Putignano, Castellana, Alberobello, Noci, Locorotondo, Turi, Conversano, Gioia del Colle, Martina Franca, Mottola, Monopoli and Fasano. He was only 24 when he committed his first murder and died in 1782 at the age of thirty,
common destine to many brigands.
Scannacornacchia was said to be a minion of the Count of Conversano Giulio Antonio Acquaviva d’Aragona.
He felt lost, therefore he let his lover Falcona kill him.
His endeavours dominate many places and monuments of Castellana. He placed his headquarter in the caves of Castellana. It is said that the weather vane of the church of San Francesco d’Assisi still bears signs of his gunshots.
Bibliography
Agrusti V., Schizzo generale del brigantaggio nella Murgia dei trulli, Schena, p. 248, 1990.
Martellotta A., Il Brigantaggio nella Murgia dei Trulli - Le scorribande del brigante Scannacornacchia fra Alberobello, Noci, Putignano e Castellana Grotte. Rotary Club Putignano, Litografia Stampa Service - Alberobello, p. 40, 2005.
Viterbo M., Scannacornacchia, un bandito pugliese del XVIII secolo, De Robertis & F. editore, Putignano, Ristampa anastatica Pro-loco Castellana-Grotte, 2005.
- Daniela Lovece
- Leggende
