Buccino
The relationship between Hofheim am Taunus and Buccino had already developed over a number of years through private contacts between German and Italian citizens. Over the course of time, it was consolidated through school exchanges, family contacts and visits from clubs.
On October 31, 2008, the town twinning was officially sealed after the two town parliaments agreed to the twinning.
The town of Buccino is located in the Campania region, between the provincial capital of Salerno and Potenza, covers an area of around 60 square kilometers and has a population of around 6,000. There are kindergartens, all types of schools including a grammar school, which is attended by 600 pupils who also come from neighboring towns, as well as sports facilities, rail and freeway connections and much more.
Jobs can be found in the industrial area as well as in agriculture, the main branch of which is the production of olive oil: ten oil presses are in operation at harvest time.
Tourism also plays a role. Buccino is rich in evidence from the past. The great earthquake in 1980 destroyed 90 percent of the old town. Numerous archaeological finds from the VII to IV century BC were and are still being made during the clearing and reconstruction.
Today, a walk through the municipal archaeological park in Via Santo Spirito reveals temple foundations from the middle of the 1st century BC, one of the oldest floor mosaics in Italy in the consecrated area of Santo Stefano, a Roman road, the Norman castle and much more.
Further information can be found on the homepage of the Förderkreis Hofheimer Städtepartnerschaften (FHS):
Buccino - Citizens' meetings
People from Hofheim tell their stories about their experiences in Tiverton.
Die nördliche Seite des Kellereiplatzes ist mittlerweile zu einem geschäftigen Zentrum des Hofheimer Stadtlebens geworden. Die Stadtbücherei erfreut sich größter Beliebtheit, die Taunus Sparkasse ist stark frequentiert und das Stadtarchiv hat sein zu Hause am kleinen Platz in Richtung Pfarrgasse. Die Benennung dieses Platzes war das letzte offizielle Puzzleteil, welches es noch zu legen galt. Wie vom Ortsbeirat Kernstadt vorgeschlagen und von der Stadtverordnetenversammlung beschlossen trägt der Platz seit Samstag, 19. Oktober 2024, den Namen Buccino Platz. Damit ist er nach Hofheims italienischer Partnerstadt benannt, mit der die Kreisstadt seit 2008 verschwistert ist. Die Partnerstädte Chinon und Tiverton haben bereits „ihren“ Platz in Hofheim, was die Inspiration für die neuerliche Platzbenennung im Beisein einer Delegation aus Buccino gab.
„Die Deutschen sind verliebt in Italien – und das seit zwei Jahrhunderten. Mindestens seit Goethes Italienischer Reise ist Italien unser Sehnsuchtsland. Nicht ganz so lange, aber doch seit mehr als 15 Jahren, sind wir Hofheimerinnen und Hofheimer verliebt in Buccino“, berichtete Bürgermeister Christian Vogt in seiner Festrede. Er dankte der Delegation aus Buccino um den Bürgermeister Pasquale Freda sehr herzlich für ihr Kommen. Außerdem hob er das unermüdliche Engagement des Förderkreises Hofheimer Städtepartnerschaften besonders hervor.
Im Jahr 2001 war erstmals eine Delegation aus Hofheim an die Amalfi-Küste gereist. Damals hatte die Gruppe auch die Geburtsstadt des Hofheimer Stadtverordneten Peppi Carleo besichtigt: nämlich Buccino. Beim Rundgang durch die historische Altstadt haben der viel zu früh verstorbene Stadtverordnetenvorsteher Wolfgang Vater, Staatsminister Axel Wintermeyer und Bürgermeister Nicola Parisi spontan über eine Städtepartnerschaft gesprochen. Und so fing alles an.
„2008 wurde die Partnerschaft offiziell beschlossen, und 2009 kam die erste Schülergruppe unter der Leitung der Lehrerin Teresa d’Acunto. Seitdem gibt es eine lebendige Partnerschaft mit Buccino – und das soll sich auch im Stadtbild bemerkbar machen. Einen Chinon Platz und einen Tiverton Platz gibt es schon. Und heute weihen wir feierlich den Buccino Platz neben der neuen Stadtbücherei, dem Stadtarchiv und der Sparkasse ein“, sagte Matthias Hees als zuständiger Dezernent für die Städtepartnerschaften.
Bürgermeister Christian Vogt: „Dies ist ein ganz besonderer Ort: Schließlich ist die Stadtbücherei seit der Eröffnung vor zwei Jahren das Wohnzimmer unserer Stadt. Hier wird den Kindergartenkindern in der ‚Bilderbuchzeit‘ vorgelesen, und hier sitzen die älteren Schülerinnen und Schüler in den ‚Studiolos‘ über den Hausaufgaben. Und im gleichen Gebäude ist auch das Gedächtnis der Stadt untergebracht: das Stadtarchiv“.
Wer sich die Stadtbücherei und das Stadtarchiv anschauen wollte, hatte nach dem offiziellen Teil bei Führungen durch das Gebäude die Gelegenheit dazu. Auch die Architekten des Projekts, Alexander Driemel von „Blumenstein Architekten“ sowie Joachim und Leonard Gottstein, waren gekommen, um dem Festakt beizuwohnen. Von Anfang an war in der Idee der Architekten eine kleine italienische Piazzetta das Vorbild für diesen Platz. Umso passender ist es nun, diesen Platz nach der italienischen Partnerstadt zu benennen und diese Idee aus den frühen Entwürfen nun mit Leben zu füllen.
Aufenthalt der italienischen Gäste vom 18.10. bis zum 20.10.2024 zur Einweihung des Buccino-Platzes.
Am Freitag, den 18.10.2024, kamen unsere Gäste aus Buccino, darunter der Bürgermeister, Pasquale Freda, die Kulturdezernentin, Anna Franca Ferrara und Teresa D'Accunto, Vorsitzende des Vereins „Amici di Hofheim“.
Nachdem Matthias Hees und ich die Freundinnen und Freunde am Flughafen abgeholt hatten, sind wir nach Frankfurt gefahren. Nach den wichtigsten Sehenswürdigkeiten und einer Essenspause mit Apfelwein (etwas zu sauer für die Gäste ;-), Grüner Soße und anderen Köstlichkeiten in der charakteristischen Kleinmarkthalle kehrten wir zurück.
Abends waren wir in Wallau. Der Bürgermeister Christian Vogt hat eine launige und informative Stadtführung angeboten und anschließend wurden wir im „Alten Hof“ bei leckerem Essen und gutem Wein verköstigt.
Samstag war der wichtige Tag! Der Buccino Platz wurde in Anwesenheit der zwei Bürgermeister, etlicher Politiker, der Vorsitzenden des Förderkreises Städtepartnerschaften e.V., Ingrid Bender, der Vorsitzenden des Vereins Amici di Hofheim, Vereinsmitgliedern und eines zahlreichen Publikums eingeweiht.
Es gab viele freudige aber auch ernste Reden, die die Wichtigkeit einer solchen Freundschaft – vor allem in der jetzigen Zeit - betonten.
Nach dem Festakt besichtigten die Gäste noch unsere, neue Bibliothek, wo es spontan zu einem intensiven und sehr interessanten Informationsaustausch (auch für mich als Übersetzerin) zwischen den zwei Bürgermeistern kam. Ein Dank an die Leiterin der Bibliothek, Frau Dietzel, die sich extra Zeit genommen hat.
Anschließend lernten die Gäste den traditionsreichen Gallusmarkt kennen und genießen.
Der Sonntag wurde mit den Gastfamilien verbracht.
Zusammen mit Matthias Hees, seiner Frau Ulla Hees und unsere Gäste bin ich im Wald spazieren gegangen, wo wir dann spät mittags bayerische Spezialitäten im charakteristischen Meisterturm gespeist haben.
Nach diesem intensiven, schönen Wochenende sind unsere Gäste abends zurückgeflogen.
geschrieben von Patrizia Bruni
(1. Referentin für Buccino)
With the words "Benvenuti a Buccino", the newly elected mayor Pasquale Freda welcomed the guests from Hofheim. A delegation of 20 people visited the Italian twin town from September 29 to October 3, 2023.
The local elections in Buccino were only a few months ago, so the Hofheimers were interested to get to know the new mayor and the changes in the city administration. But of course it was also a great pleasure to see long-time companions of the town twinning again. First and foremost the chairwoman of the "Amici di Hofheim", Teresa d'Acunto.
Together with the Buccino speakers Patrizia Bruni and Giuseppe (Pepi) Carleo, she provided a very informative and varied program on site. A guided tour in Buccino through the "Marcello Gigante" museum and through the old town, the ancient Volcei, provided deeper impressions of life in our twin town and this region of southern Italy in the past and today.
The following day, the visit to the Benedictine abbey at Cava de' Tirreni was met with great interest. The monastery with the illustrious name "Abbazia territoriale della Santissima Trinità di Cava de' Tirreni" is located on a hill about three kilometers from the town of Cava de' Tirreni, for which the abbey was the starting point for development. The location below a grotto and the size of the monastery, whose foundations rest on Roman buildings, are particularly impressive. In the town of Cava de' Tirreni, which is also well worth a visit, there was an opportunity for a short tour with a snack. In Vietri, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast, which is not far away, the view over the Mediterranean was breathtaking. At sunset, a typical Italian dinner was prepared in the outdoor restaurant by the sea together with the Italian hosts.
In addition to a variety of sights, such as the large cathedral, Salerno was particularly impressive the next day with its historic city center and the multitude of fashion stores, boutiques, delicatessens and cafés. Quite a few of the participants had been looking forward to this shopping opportunity and quickly found what they were looking for.
The official farewell evening was hosted by the town of Buccino, which also provided musical entertainment. Pasquale Freda was delighted that the two towns have now been linked for 15 years and reiterated his desire to continue supporting the twinning meetings. Teresa d'Acunto also emphasized once again the importance of the partnership, especially in today's world. Mayor Vogt and the deputy chairman of the Hofheim Town Twinning Association (FHS) Hans-Jürgen Koblitz expressed their thanks on behalf of the Hofheim delegation. In his speech, Hofheim Mayor Vogt pointed out a parallel between himself and his colleague in Buccino: Both took office on a 13th. While in Germany this day is associated with many misfortunes, in Italy it is considered a lucky day. So he also wants to see his assumption of office on a Friday the 13th in September 2019 as a lucky day. In Italy, Friday or Tuesday the 17th is considered an unlucky day: "Nè di Venere, nè di Marte, nè si sposa, nè si parte". So don't travel or come back on these days, and don't get married or divorced.
The delegation wants to pay attention to this on their next trip. But they definitely want to come back. Molte grazie!
by Matthias Hees
Via Hofheim in Buccino
A delegation from the city of Hofheim and the Förderkreis Hofheimer Städtepartnerschaften e.V. visited the twin town of Buccino from April 21 to 25, 2022. The aim of this trip was to name the street "Via Hofheim" in the center of Buccino.
After arriving at Naples airport, we were greeted by our member Giuseppe Carleo.
After boarding the bus, we immediately set off in cool weather on narrow roads towards Vesuvius. From the parking lot, it was about half an hour's steep climb to the crater rim. A strong wind was blowing against us. The climb and the view were a moving experience.
We then drove to Buccino, frozen but in high spirits. After checking into our hotel rooms at the beautiful Hotel Elia, we all met up again for dinner at the hotel. We were joined by the representatives of the municipality of Buccino and our partner association "Ammici di Hofheim". It was a lovely evening together, characterized by the joy of reunion and interesting conversations.
On Friday after breakfast, our bus driver Giulio took us to the "Oasi con le cascate I capelli di Venere" waterfall. This attraction has been declared a World Heritage Site and has been beautifully restored with EU funding. The rainy weather was followed by an extensive lunch nearby.
The evening ended with another meeting and dinner together at the hotel.
Saturday was the big day for which we had all traveled to Buccino. As part of a walk through the old town center of Buccino, several squares and streets were named after deserving citizens of the municipality of Buccino. The descendants of these citizens had the opportunity to say a few words about the lives of their ancestors.
The last event was the naming of Via Hofheim. The new street sign and an information board were ceremoniously unveiled. Via Hofheim stretches from the old town center near the old church towards the town hall and is approximately 350 meters long.
This was followed by a tour of the Isoldi company. This company produces high-quality olive oil. This was an opportunity to stock up on supplies for home. At the same time, some visited the "Carlo Levi" museum, which was set up by a foundation.
Following this visit, we gathered for a light lunch in the beautiful courtyard of the town hall at around 2 pm. After a short break, we went to the town hall meeting room. Here we witnessed the honoring of living, deserving citizens of the town of Buccino. They were named honorary citizens.
During this event, the representatives of our delegation also had the opportunity to pay tribute to the importance of the town twinning and to focus on new projects.
On Sunday, after breakfast, we went on an excursion to the nearby town of San Gregorio Magno. Here, young people have come together to produce and market local organic food products. Parts of the old town have been beautifully and lavishly restored for this purpose. The production of honey, ricotta etc. was explained to us. There was also a tasting of the products made there and of local wine.
It was a very interesting trip which, in addition to seeing old friends again, also opened up new perspectives for the expansion of the town twinning with Buccino.
Many thanks also go to our hosts in Buccino and we all hope to see them again soon, either for the youth project at the beginning of June or for the anniversary celebrations at the end of June, for which a delegation is expected.
by Stephan Reimer & Sylvia Borroni-Reimer
For older reports, please contact the "Town Twinning" team or visit www.fhs-online.de.