Guardialfiera
Encyclopedia
Guardialfiera is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Campobasso
in the Italian
region Molise
, located about 30 km northeast of Campobasso
. It sits on a hilltop overlooking Lake Guardialfiera
, which was created as a result of the damming of the Biferno
river. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,185 and an area of 43.2 km².
Guardialfiera borders the following municipalities: Acquaviva Collecroce
, Casacalenda
, Castelmauro
, Civitacampomarano
, Larino
, Lupara
, Palata
.
ruler of Larino
who in 1049 conquered the town.
In 1053 it is likely that Pope Leo IX
used Guardialfiera as a base in order to launch an attack against the Normans
who had occupied the nearby town of Larino in 1050. On June 18, 1053 the Norman Count of Apulia, Humphrey of Hauteville
defeated Pope Leo IX at the Battle of Civitate
. The Episcopal Seat of Guardialfiera was established in 1061 by Pope Alexander II
likely in recognition of the town’s role in the events of 1053.
In 1130 the town was conquered by the Norman king Roger II of Sicily
. Subsequently it was ruled by the Soliaco family until 1350, then the Marzano family. In 1550 the land passed to the Di Capua family then to the De Blaiis and in 1636 the Ferri, rulers of Lupara. In 1649 the last of the Ferri family died without any heirs and Guardialfiera was donated to Serafino Biscardi. In 1688 the town was rebuilt after it was completely destroyed by an earthquake. Constantino Lemaitre bought the town's land in 1793 in order to gain the title of Marquis. The Lemaitre family were the last feudal lords to control Guardialfiera when the feudal system was suppressed in 1806.
In the early part of the 20th century many individuals immigrated from Guardialfiera, to North America, especially to Montreal
, Canada.
On April 7, 1751 relics of Saint Gaudentius (San Gaudenzio) were transported by two Capuchin friars from the catacombs of St. Priscilla to the Cathedral in Guardialfiera. These were given to Mons. Pasquale Zaini, the Bishop of Guardialfiera, by Pope Benedict XIV. The relics can still be seen today in Santa Maria dell'Assunta and are paraded through the town on the feast of San Gaudenzio (1 and 2 June). It remains unclear who exactly Saint Gaudentius was, although from historical texts he is referred to as a martyr. It has been alternatively claimed that he was either the architect who designed the Flavian Amphitheater in Rome (also known as the "Colosseum
"), or Saint Gaudentius of Rimini
.
After an earthquake in 1456, the cathedral was rebuilt and in 1460 a Holy Door
(Porta Santa) was added to the north-east facing wall of the cathedral by Bishop Jacopo. This is one of the few Holy Doors outside of Rome and is opened once every year during the feast of San Gaudenzio except during Jubilee Years when the Holy Doors in Rome are opened.
In 1975 a medieval crypt was discovered during the restoration of the cathedral.
origin, that was visible just north of the town. According to local lore, Hannibal used this bridge to move his army across the Biferno. Photos, murals and statues of the bridge can be seen throughout Guardialfiera.
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 Campobasso
Province of Campobasso
The Province of Campobasso is a province in the Molise region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Campobasso.It has an area of 2,909 km², and a total population of 230,692...
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 Molise
Molise
Molise is a region of Southern Italy, the second smallest of the regions. It was formerly part of the region of Abruzzi e Molise and now a separate entity...
, located about 30 km northeast of Campobasso
Campobasso
-Main sights:The main attraction of Campobasso is the Castello Monforte, built in 1450 by the local ruler Nicola II Monforte, over Lombard or Norman ruins. The castle has Guelph merlons and stands on a commanding point, where traces of ancient settlements have been found...
. It sits on a hilltop overlooking Lake Guardialfiera
Lago di Guardialfiera
Lago di Guardialfiera is a lake in the Province of Campobasso, Molise, Italy....
, which was created as a result of the damming of the Biferno
Biferno
The Biferno is a river of Molise, in southern Italy. Its source is in the comune of Bojano and during the first few kilometres of its course it receives the waters of numerous streams which flow from the Matese mountains...
river. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,185 and an area of 43.2 km².
Guardialfiera borders the following municipalities: Acquaviva Collecroce
Acquaviva Collecroce
Acquaviva Collecroce is a small town and comune in the province of Campobasso, in the Molise region of southern Italy, between the Biferno and Trigno rivers....
, Casacalenda
Casacalenda
Casacalenda is a comune in the Province of Campobasso in the Italian region Molise, located about 25 km northeast of Campobasso...
, Castelmauro
Castelmauro
Castelmauro is a comune in the Province of Campobasso in the Italian region Molise, located about 30 km north of Campobasso...
, Civitacampomarano
Civitacampomarano
Civitacampomarano is a comune in the Province of Campobasso in the Italian region Molise, located about 25 km north of Campobasso....
, Larino
Larino
Larino is a town and comune of approximately 8,200 inhabitants in Molise, province of Campobasso, southern Italy. It is located in the fertile valley of the Biferno River....
, Lupara
Lupara (commune)
Lupara is a comune in the Province of Campobasso in the Italian region Molise, located about 25 km north of Campobasso....
, Palata
Palata
Palata or Polota is a river in Belarus and Russia, a tributary of the Western Dvina river. Rising in Pskov Oblast of Russia and flowing through northern Belarus, it joins the Western Dvina at Polatsk....
.
History
The town of Guardialfiera has been continuously inhabited since at least the 11th century. Reports exist that a Roman tower was visible on the western edge of the town until the 10th century. The origin of the town’s name is uncertain, although it is likely that the name is derived from either the “Guards of Alfier” or the “Guards of Adalferio”, named after the LombardLombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
ruler of Larino
Larino
Larino is a town and comune of approximately 8,200 inhabitants in Molise, province of Campobasso, southern Italy. It is located in the fertile valley of the Biferno River....
who in 1049 conquered the town.
In 1053 it is likely that Pope Leo IX
Pope Leo IX
Pope Saint Leo IX , born Bruno of Eguisheim-Dagsburg, was Pope from February 12, 1049 to his death. He was a German aristocrat and as well as being Pope was a powerful secular ruler of central Italy. He is regarded as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, with the feast day of April 19...
used Guardialfiera as a base in order to launch an attack against the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
who had occupied the nearby town of Larino in 1050. On June 18, 1053 the Norman Count of Apulia, Humphrey of Hauteville
Humphrey of Hauteville
Humphrey of Hauteville , surnamed Abagelard, was the Count of Apulia and Calabria from 1051 to his death.Humphrey was probably the youngest son of Tancred of Hauteville by his first wife Muriel. Some sources make Geoffrey and Serlo his younger brothers...
defeated Pope Leo IX at the Battle of Civitate
Battle of Civitate
The Battle of Civitate was fought on 18 June 1053 in Southern Italy, between the Normans, led by the Count of Apulia Humphrey of Hauteville, and a Swabian-Italian-Lombard army, organised by Pope Leo IX and led on the battlefield by Gerard, Duke of Lorraine, and Rudolf, Prince of Benevento...
. The Episcopal Seat of Guardialfiera was established in 1061 by Pope Alexander II
Pope Alexander II
Pope Alexander II , born Anselmo da Baggio, was Pope from 1061 to 1073.He was born in Milan. As bishop of Lucca he had been an energetic coadjutor with Hildebrand of Sovana in endeavouring to suppress simony, and to enforce the celibacy of the clergy...
likely in recognition of the town’s role in the events of 1053.
In 1130 the town was conquered by the Norman king Roger II of Sicily
Roger II of Sicily
Roger II was King of Sicily, son of Roger I of Sicily and successor to his brother Simon. He began his rule as Count of Sicily in 1105, later became Duke of Apulia and Calabria , then King of Sicily...
. Subsequently it was ruled by the Soliaco family until 1350, then the Marzano family. In 1550 the land passed to the Di Capua family then to the De Blaiis and in 1636 the Ferri, rulers of Lupara. In 1649 the last of the Ferri family died without any heirs and Guardialfiera was donated to Serafino Biscardi. In 1688 the town was rebuilt after it was completely destroyed by an earthquake. Constantino Lemaitre bought the town's land in 1793 in order to gain the title of Marquis. The Lemaitre family were the last feudal lords to control Guardialfiera when the feudal system was suppressed in 1806.
In the early part of the 20th century many individuals immigrated from Guardialfiera, to North America, especially to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada.
Santa Maria Assunta
The town's main church, Santa Maria Assunta, dates to at least the 11th century. Many ancient stones carved with pagan and early Christian iconographs dating to the 7th and 8th centuries were incorporated into the present structure. It was likely that these stones were part of an pagan temple that originally sat on the same site. It is unclear if the present structure was standing at the time of Pope Leo IX’s visit in 1053, but the diocese records clearly show that the designation of Santa Maria dell'Assunta was elevated to a cathedral in 1061 and was presided over a Bishop by the name of Peter.On April 7, 1751 relics of Saint Gaudentius (San Gaudenzio) were transported by two Capuchin friars from the catacombs of St. Priscilla to the Cathedral in Guardialfiera. These were given to Mons. Pasquale Zaini, the Bishop of Guardialfiera, by Pope Benedict XIV. The relics can still be seen today in Santa Maria dell'Assunta and are paraded through the town on the feast of San Gaudenzio (1 and 2 June). It remains unclear who exactly Saint Gaudentius was, although from historical texts he is referred to as a martyr. It has been alternatively claimed that he was either the architect who designed the Flavian Amphitheater in Rome (also known as the "Colosseum
Colosseum
The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre , is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire...
"), or Saint Gaudentius of Rimini
Gaudentius of Rimini
Saint Gaudentius of Rimini was born in Ephesus in Asia Minor. In 308 he migrated to Rome and was baptized. In 332 he was ordained as a priest and fourteen years later consecrated as a bishop. He was then sent to Ariminum where he became the first bishop of that city...
.
After an earthquake in 1456, the cathedral was rebuilt and in 1460 a Holy Door
Holy door
Each of the four papal basilicas in Rome has a Holy door . The doors are normally sealed shut from the inside so that they cannot be opened...
(Porta Santa) was added to the north-east facing wall of the cathedral by Bishop Jacopo. This is one of the few Holy Doors outside of Rome and is opened once every year during the feast of San Gaudenzio except during Jubilee Years when the Holy Doors in Rome are opened.
In 1975 a medieval crypt was discovered during the restoration of the cathedral.
Lake Guardialfiera
Guardialfiera overlooks the artificial Lake Guardialfiera, which was created due to damming of the Biferno river in the 1970s. In ancient Roman times, the river was known as Tifernus. The rising waters of the lake submerged an ancient bridge, believed by locals to be of EtruscanEtruscan civilization
Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy in the area corresponding roughly to Tuscany. The ancient Romans called its creators the Tusci or Etrusci...
origin, that was visible just north of the town. According to local lore, Hannibal used this bridge to move his army across the Biferno. Photos, murals and statues of the bridge can be seen throughout Guardialfiera.
Famous people
- Francesco Jovine (Guardialfiera, October 9, 1902 – Rome, April 30, 1950) Narrator of realist tradition. His works are set in Molise. The most significant include: Signora Ava (1942) and Le terre del sacramento (1950).
- Carlo Romeo (Guardialfiera, 1755 - Naples, December 12, 1799) Lawyer member of the Neapolitan Republic of 1799. He was executed in Naples following the Bourbon repression after the fall of the republic.