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The Bottari family, owners of the palace on Via Garibaldi, made their appearance in Roccella in the first half of the 18th century. The progenitors of this lineage, of Venetian origin, were D. Giovanni Bottari and Donna Maria Antonia Botticelli. Likely due to governmental assignments, they settled in Rome, where at least Aloisio and Federico were born.
The Bottari couple was consistently present in Roccella in the 1720s. They were a respected and authoritative family, with their children forming relationships of kinship and spiritual affinity with the wealthier families of Roccella.
Aloisio’s son married the Magnificent Lady Grazia Gentile di Martone, and they settled permanently in Roccella, giving rise to a numerous offspring. Various family members excelled in receiving provincial and local governmental appointments.
Originally, the family lived in the Città district of S. Nicola ex Aleph, and their house suffered damage from the earthquake of 1783. At that time, Aloisio Bottari was the treasurer of Prince Carafa. Likely after the earthquake, they renovated their residence on the cliff, continuing to live there until the early 1880s.
In a document from 1791, it is mentioned that D. Giuseppe Antonio Bottari paid a fee for “a portion of land held in the district Borgo, where there is a house.” This information suggests that this house was later expanded since there is no free land around it today.
During the period when residents of the old city were encouraged to move outside the city walls, the Bottari family declared their properties in 1816 according to the laws. It was noted that at Borgo there were: “two rooms, 1 ground floor and 2 small kitchens” owned by D. Ferdinando; “1 room, 1 ground floor, 1 kitchen of notary D. Giuseppe Antonio; “4 rooms, 1 ground floor with a small piece of land” belonging to the widow of D. Vincenzo; “1 room and 1 ground floor” inhabited by Sac. D. Nicola Bottari. These rooms and ground floors likely correspond to the current palace as seen today.
Over time, various members of this historic family have held prominent roles in civil and religious spheres in Roccella. Some notable individuals include Mayor D. Vincenzo Bottari; Priests D. Giuseppe and D. Francesco Bottari; Notary Giuseppe Bottari; Teacher Felice Bottari; and Pharmacist Chemist D. Vincenzo Bottari.
Regarding this pharmacist, Vincenzo Bottari’s request to open a new pharmacy in Borgo district along Garibaldi Street was discussed during a municipal council meeting on October 1st, 1888. The council unanimously approved his request due to the lack of pharmacies in that densely populated area.
The pharmaceutical business with an attached laboratory had a proactive approach spanning various fields including beverage production and specific medicinal preparations. A philanthropic initiative by pharmacist Vincenzo Bottari for the benefit of Roccella’s indigent community was also acknowledged during a council meeting under Mayor Dr. Antonio De Angelis’ presidency.
This family’s connection to pharmaceutical activities stemmed from Maria Teresa Bottari’s marriage to Giuseppe Antonio Mantegna, a pharmacist, which took place in Roccella on October 26