What is the historical origin of Alvito?

Alvito originates from the ancient village of Civitas Sancti Urbani attested in 967; the first nucleus called Alvito was built in 1096 on Monte Albeto.

What remains of the ancient settlement of Sant'Urbano?

The remains of the ancient settlement can be seen in the toponymy (Colle della Civita, Colle della Setta), in rural roads that follow the Benedictine layout, a fountain at Fontanelle, and a small Michaelic shrine on a cliff.

Which noble families ruled Alvito?

Over the centuries, Alvito was under the rule of the Counts d'Aquino, later of the Cantelmo family, and from 1595 of the Gallio family, who managed the fief until the end of the 18th century.

When did Alvito obtain the title of city?

Alvito was granted the title of city in 1739 by Charles VI of Habsburg, a title later confirmed by a royal diploma from Charles III of Spain in 1744.

What urban and social changes took place in Alvito in the 19th-20th centuries?

A local bourgeoisie developed, stately mansions such as the Graziani and Sipari palaces were built, the Alvito-Castello link was constructed (1914), public services were started up, and emigration took place.

Which buildings or places of historical interest to visit in Alvito?

Highlights include the Church of Santa Maria del Campo, the Church of St Simeon the Prophet, and the Gallio Palace.

Alvito

Ancient History of Alvito

The first evidence of the existence of the town of Civitas Sancti Urbani (Sant'Urbano) dates back to 967. The first settlement nucleus of “Alvito” was built in 1096, and its name seems to derive from mons Albetum (Monte Albeto).

Sant'Urbano, was located on the road leading from the Comino Valley to the Abruzzi through Campoli or Pescasseroli. It was founded by Cassinese monks or, more likely, by the Volturnians. Historical records show that the town was rebuilt after 976, when the abbot of Montecassino, Aligerno, asked some feudal lords of nearby Vicalvi to build a new fortress near an old abandoned town.

It has therefore been hypothesised that when San Vincenzo al Volturno was annihilated around 881, and Montecassino was destroyed by the Saracens two years later, the Muslims who made their appearance in the Comino Valley by plundering it, led to Urban's initial downfall.

The remains of the ancient settlement

The remains of the ancient settlement are still scarcely evident today: in toponymy (Colle della Civita, Colle della Setta), in the system of country roads that still follow the Benedictine layout between Sant'Onofrio and Alvito, and in minor works such as the fountain located at the foot of the ancient settlement (in the «le fontanelle» area) and a small Michaelic shrine on a cliff. However, the new settlement was not definitive. The town was soon abandoned and replaced by more prosperous economic centres such as Santa Maria del Campo or the hill of Monte di Albeto, in the future the village of today.

The Middle Ages

In the following centuries, the demographic and economic development of the upper part of the town (today's Castello district) led to the birth of other centres in the vicinity, which still exist today. From the 13th century, the centre was part of the domains of the Counts of Aquino, and from the end of the 14th century it was placed under the rule of the Cantelmo family, becoming a County (early 15th century).

In 1350, Rostaino Cantelmo was responsible for the reconstruction of the castle, destroyed in the previous year by the Apennine earthquake (1349). During the 16th century, after passing to the condottiere Pietro Navarro, the County of Alvito came under the rule of the Folch de Cardona family, in particular Raimondo, viceroy of Naples, and his sons Ferrante and Antonio.

The history of the Gallio family and their influence

From 1595, the village and a large part of the Comino Valley became a fief of the Gallio family, originally from Cernobbio, who ruled the fate of the duchy until the end of the 18th century.

During the 17th century, the aforementioned family, whose most illustrious exponent was Cardinal Tolomeo (1527-1607), secretary of the Papal State, embellished the town, for example by building the ducal palace (Palazzo Gallio) and opening Via Gallia (today Corso Gallio), the main street, in 1666, and enlivened its cultural life. The epic deeds of this dynasty and the history of the feud up to the beginnings of the Baroque age were also reflected in literature, with the publication of the Descrittione del Ducato di Alvito, a work of 1633 attributed to the fictional writer Giovanni Paolo Mattia Castrucci, commissioned by the Gallio family and reprinted with different lessons in 1686 and 1863

In 1739, the town was granted the title of city by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VI of Habsburg, which was reiterated with a royal diploma by Charles III of Spain (1744). During this period, Lorenzo Ganganelli, who would ascend to the papal throne in 1769 with the name of Clement XIV, was master of novices at the convent of San Nicola.

The growth of the bourgeoisie and urban evolution

During the 19th century, the town experienced the growth of the bourgeoisie and the modification of the urban fabric. On the one hand, it saw the construction of stately buildings on the main street (such as the Graziani and Sipari palaces erected in 1841 and 1858 respectively), on the other hand, there was the acquisition of the signs of a civilised life proper to the bourgeois spirit, with the construction of new roads (in particular the Alvito-Castello link, completed in 1914) and the establishment of primary services (Hospital, Magistrate's Court, High School, Agricultural School).

It also experienced, particularly after national unification, economic growth, mainly centred on agriculture, which was, however, accompanied by the first phenomena of emigration.

In particular, migratory flows at the end of the 19th century, both towards Balkan Europe, especially Turkey and Bulgaria, and towards the Americas, with Brazil and the United States as main destinations. In the same period, there are also episodes of child trafficking to continental Europe, especially to France, where many Alvitanian children are taken to work in glassworks.

In 1919, thanks to Vincenzo Mazzenga, the first agricultural colony for the orphans of farmers who perished in the First World War in the province of Terra di Lavoro was established here, which remained active until the mid-1930s. During the Second World War, the town was spared from air attacks. However, the Abruzzese partisan Giuseppe Testa, decorated with the gold medal for military valour in memory, was executed on 11 May 1944 at Fontanelle.