Campodimele
Encyclopedia
Campodimele is a town and comune
in the province of Latina
, in the Lazio region of central Italy
. It is located on a steep Karstic hill, between the Monti Ausoni
and Monti Aurunci ranges.
The economy is mostly based on agriculture.
, fifth king of Rome (579 BC); the ruins of Apiola are visible 6 km away from the present-day historic center of Campodimele.
In the 6th century AD the Lombards established the first fortified settlement, while in the following century if was part of the possessions of the Monastery of Montecassino.
From 916 it was acquired by the Duchy of Gaeta
. Campo de Melle is mentioned again in a donation by the Consul of Fondi
in 1072. In 1087, Pope Victor III has a list of the abbey's property sculpted onto the bronze door of the Basilica of Montecassino.
In 1384 it became a possession of the Caetani
family of Fondi, but, in 1497, King Frederick IV of Naples
gave the county of Fondi with the surrounding duchies, including Campodimele, to the Colonna family
.
In 1534 Giulia Gonzaga
fled her from the attempted capture by the Algerian pirate Hayreddin Barbarossa. In 1591 the fief was inherited by Luigi Carafa, Prince of Stigliano.
Campodimele gained municipal rights in 1813.
During World War II
the Gustav Line passed from Campodimele. Alberto Moravia
, who had been deported here, took inspiration from the happenings of the time for his novel La Ciociara.
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:...
in the province of Latina
Province of Latina
The Province of Latina is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Latina.It has an area of 2,251 km², and a total population of 519,850...
, in the Lazio region of central Italy
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...
. It is located on a steep Karstic hill, between the Monti Ausoni
Monti Ausoni
The Ausoni Mountains are mountain range of southern Lazio, in central Italy. They are part of the Antiappennini, a group running from the Apennines chain to the Tyrrhenian Sea. They are bounded northwards by the Monti Lepini and southwards by the Aurunci Mountains.They take the name from the...
and Monti Aurunci ranges.
The economy is mostly based on agriculture.
History
Campus Mellis rose probably over the ruins of Apiola, a very ancient Latin city, destroyed by Tarquinius PriscusTarquinius Priscus
Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, also called Tarquin the Elder or Tarquin I, was the legendary fifth King of Rome from 616 BC to 579 BC. His wife was Tanaquil.-Early life:According to Livy, Tarquinius Priscus came from the Etruria...
, fifth king of Rome (579 BC); the ruins of Apiola are visible 6 km away from the present-day historic center of Campodimele.
In the 6th century AD the Lombards established the first fortified settlement, while in the following century if was part of the possessions of the Monastery of Montecassino.
From 916 it was acquired by the Duchy of Gaeta
Duchy of Gaeta
The Duchy of Gaeta was an early medieval state centred on the coastal South Italian city of Gaeta. It began in the early ninth century as the local community began to grow autonomous as Byzantine power lagged in the Mediterranean and the peninsula thanks to Lombard and Saracen incursions.Our...
. Campo de Melle is mentioned again in a donation by the Consul of Fondi
Fondi
Fondi is a city and comune in the province of Latina, Lazio, central Italy, halfway between Rome and Naples. Before the construction of the highway between the latter cities in the late 1950s, Fondi had been an important settlement on the Roman Via Appia, which was the main connection from Rome to...
in 1072. In 1087, Pope Victor III has a list of the abbey's property sculpted onto the bronze door of the Basilica of Montecassino.
In 1384 it became a possession of the Caetani
Caetani
Caetani, or Gaetani, is the name of an Italian noble family princely family which played a great part in the history of Pisa and of Rome, principally via their close links to the papacy.-Origins:...
family of Fondi, but, in 1497, King Frederick IV of Naples
Frederick IV of Naples
Frederick IV , sometimes known as Frederick I or Federico d'Aragona, was the last King of Naples of the House of Trastámara, ruling from 1496 to 1501...
gave the county of Fondi with the surrounding duchies, including Campodimele, to the Colonna family
Colonna family
The Colonna family is an Italian noble family; it was powerful in medieval and Renaissance Rome, supplying one Pope and many other Church and political leaders...
.
In 1534 Giulia Gonzaga
Giulia Gonzaga
Giulia Gonzaga was an Italian noblewoman of the Renaissance.-Biography:Giulia was born in Gazzuolo in 1512. In 1526 she was married to count Vespasiano Colonna , count of Fondi and duke of Traetto...
fled her from the attempted capture by the Algerian pirate Hayreddin Barbarossa. In 1591 the fief was inherited by Luigi Carafa, Prince of Stigliano.
Campodimele gained municipal rights in 1813.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the Gustav Line passed from Campodimele. Alberto Moravia
Alberto Moravia
Alberto Moravia, born Alberto Pincherle was an Italian novelist and journalist. His novels explored matters of modern sexuality, social alienation, and existentialism....
, who had been deported here, took inspiration from the happenings of the time for his novel La Ciociara.
Main sights
- The walls (11th century AD).
- Monastery of Sant'Onofrio, founded by Desiderius of Montecassino in the 11th century.
- Parish church of San Michele Arcangelo, built in the 11th century over a pre-existing pagan temple.
- Church of Annunziata (13th century)