Fragneto Monforte
Encyclopedia
Fragneto Monforte is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Benevento
in the Italian
region Campania
.
Fragneto is a green mountainous area whose history dates back from 500 BC.
It is not far from Benevento
(just 10 km) the provincial capital of Samnium, Naples
(65 km) and Rome
(200 km).
As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,935 and an area of 24.4 km².
Fragneto Monforte borders the following municipalities: Benevento
, Campolattaro
, Casalduni
, Fragneto l'Abate
, Pesco Sannita
, Ponte
, Pontelandolfo
, Torrecuso
.
In the 10th century BC, units of Bizantini escaped from Benevento and settled in Fragneto, introduced the cult of Saint Nicolao from Myra, still today practised.
In 1010 appears the common noun Monteforte that will be turned in Monforte during the 17th century.
In the Norman period (1150–1168) Fragneto Monforte is often named among the feudal overloads, in fact in the first half of the 12th century it belonged to Bartolomeo from Monteforte.
This family, during the period of Angiò, succeeded in enlarging their properties and above all in conserving them for more than three centuries.
In the 14th and 15th centuries Fragneto Monforte lives tragic events: first the terrible earthquake of 1349, then the occupation of the Aragonesi, the reconquest of the Angioini and finally the other earthquake on Saint Barbara's night in 1456, that destroyed the country.
With the arrival of Carl VIII, king of France, to monforte, for the first time is hoisted the french flag.
After the French defeat the dominion and the power of Monforte ceased; his possession was given to Federico d'Aragona e Andrea di Capua. During the following 90 years the earldom of Fragneto will be sold other five times.
In 1584 it will belong to the family Montalto that in 1612 will receive the title of Duke of Fragneto. To the heirs of Montalto family belongs today the Palazzo Ducale.
The Parish Church of SS Nicola and Rocco, destroyed by the earthquake of 1688 and rebuilt the following century. In the church there is the relic of Santa Faustina, martyr during the dominion of emperor Diocletian, dating back to the 3rd century AD.
This church took the place of the older Santa Croce Church, completely destroyed by the same earthquake and whose restoration has recently been done.
The Bell Tower built between the 17th-18th centuries; it is separated from the church to rise in the main square.
Similar to that also the tiglio, the tree symbol of the village, rises on the main square. It dates back to the end of 16th century.
Traditional crast techniques of wicker, wood and wrought iron, pottery and lace are still used to create the finest Fragneto handicrafts.
During the festival, in the town there are a lot of exhibitions and expositons of folklore, music, art, local handicrafts, typical products and cultural meetings.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the Province of Benevento
Province of Benevento
The Province of Benevento is a province in the Campania region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Benevento.It has an area of 2,071 km², and a total population of 289,455...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
.
Fragneto is a green mountainous area whose history dates back from 500 BC.
It is not far from Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
(just 10 km) the provincial capital of Samnium, Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
(65 km) and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
(200 km).
As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,935 and an area of 24.4 km².
Fragneto Monforte borders the following municipalities: Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
, Campolattaro
Campolattaro
Campolattaro is a comune in the Province of Benevento in the Italian region Campania, located about 60 km northeast of Naples and about 15 km north of Benevento.-Main sights:*The Castle...
, Casalduni
Casalduni
Casalduni is a comune in the Province of Benevento in the Italian region Campania, located about 60 km northeast of Naples and about 15 km northwest of Benevento, on the slopes of Monte Cicco on the right of the Tammaro river....
, Fragneto l'Abate
Fragneto l'Abate
Fragneto l'Abate is a comune in the Province of Benevento in the Italian region Campania, located about 70 km northeast of Naples and about 15 km north of Benevento....
, Pesco Sannita
Pesco Sannita
Pesco Sannita is a comune in the Province of Benevento in the Italian region Campania, located about 70 km northeast of Naples and about 11 km north of Benevento...
, Ponte
Ponte (Benevento)
Ponte is the name of a town and comune in the Province of Benevento, Campania Region, Italy. It is a member of the Titerno "Local Action Group" and its name means bridge in Italian language.-Geography:...
, Pontelandolfo
Pontelandolfo
Pontelandolfo is an Italian town and comune of 28.91 square kilometers, in the Sannio Hills in the province of Benevento halfway between Naples and Campobasso, with around 3,000 inhabitants.-History:...
, Torrecuso
Torrecuso
Torrecuso is a comune in the Province of Benevento in the Italian region Campania, located about 50 km northeast of Naples and about 10 km northwest of Benevento...
.
History
Due to its strategic position, since 500 BC, Fragneto Monforte was a very important center for Sanniti, Romans, Goths, Byantians, Muslims, and Lombards. The name Fragneto comes from "Fara" (family) of "Gnito", a Lombard warrior who founded the "castrum", (the fortified village) around the 11th century AD.In the 10th century BC, units of Bizantini escaped from Benevento and settled in Fragneto, introduced the cult of Saint Nicolao from Myra, still today practised.
In 1010 appears the common noun Monteforte that will be turned in Monforte during the 17th century.
In the Norman period (1150–1168) Fragneto Monforte is often named among the feudal overloads, in fact in the first half of the 12th century it belonged to Bartolomeo from Monteforte.
This family, during the period of Angiò, succeeded in enlarging their properties and above all in conserving them for more than three centuries.
In the 14th and 15th centuries Fragneto Monforte lives tragic events: first the terrible earthquake of 1349, then the occupation of the Aragonesi, the reconquest of the Angioini and finally the other earthquake on Saint Barbara's night in 1456, that destroyed the country.
With the arrival of Carl VIII, king of France, to monforte, for the first time is hoisted the french flag.
After the French defeat the dominion and the power of Monforte ceased; his possession was given to Federico d'Aragona e Andrea di Capua. During the following 90 years the earldom of Fragneto will be sold other five times.
In 1584 it will belong to the family Montalto that in 1612 will receive the title of Duke of Fragneto. To the heirs of Montalto family belongs today the Palazzo Ducale.
Monuments
The main monuments in Fragneto are: the Palazzo ducale, home of Montalto family for over 400 years and elegantly restored and refinished. Today it is a luxury venue for special events such as conferences, parties and weddings.The Parish Church of SS Nicola and Rocco, destroyed by the earthquake of 1688 and rebuilt the following century. In the church there is the relic of Santa Faustina, martyr during the dominion of emperor Diocletian, dating back to the 3rd century AD.
This church took the place of the older Santa Croce Church, completely destroyed by the same earthquake and whose restoration has recently been done.
The Bell Tower built between the 17th-18th centuries; it is separated from the church to rise in the main square.
Similar to that also the tiglio, the tree symbol of the village, rises on the main square. It dates back to the end of 16th century.
Typical food and products
The typical foods of Fragneto area include: hand made pasta (cavatelli, fusilli), ewe's milk cheese, wines and oil all of controlled origin. However most products that enrich the gastronomy in this area can be related to an artistic and qualitatative craftmanship: from "zeppole" and "struffoli" to the vaste range of charcuterie, capocollo, soppressate, sausages, beefs and pork.Traditional crast techniques of wicker, wood and wrought iron, pottery and lace are still used to create the finest Fragneto handicrafts.
Hot air balloon festival
The Hot air balloon festival takes place in October. It began more than 20 years ago and it is promoted by the administration and "Pro- Loco". Both Italian and foreign crews take part, and the meeting is not only a sporting event, but also an important cultural meeting, due to the presence of famous representatives of the arts and culture. Its main aim is to promote the exploitation of Fragneto's and Samnium's agricultural, cultural and handicraft resources, to allow the knowledge and peace among different races and cultures.During the festival, in the town there are a lot of exhibitions and expositons of folklore, music, art, local handicrafts, typical products and cultural meetings.