The Family Legend

 

Many generations ago, seven families fled Albania to escape a Turkish invasion. These were royal families, people of wealth and importance, and they feared their conquerors would follow.

The seven families sailed around the boot of Italy and up that country’s western coast to a point near the village of San Lucido. Beaching their boat, the families began life in a new land. Then one day, they were dancing in a meadow. They looked to sea and spotted Turkish sails. Fearful of discovery, the seven families moved further into the hills until they came to a large rock. Circling over the rock was a falcon, so they named their town Falconara and built their church upon that rock.