Apice
A tour of Apice
Hello! Today I will take you on a journey to discover Apice, a charming municipality in Campania with a long and interesting history. Get ready, there is much to see!
Physical Geography
Let's start with geography. Apice is located in the province of Benevento and is home to around 5,310 people. The municipal territory covers an agricultural area of 2,900.08 hectares and is crossed by the rivers Calore irpino, Ufita, and Miscano, which converge with each other. The old town, abandoned after the Irpinia earthquake of 1962, was located at an altitude of 250 meters on the right bank of the Calore river, while the new town is located at an altitude of 300 meters on the left bank of the river.
Climate
Apice has a rather temperate climate, with average temperatures ranging between 3.8 and 30.5 degrees Celsius.
Origin of the Name
The origin of the name Apice is uncertain, but the main theories suggest that it derives from the Latin word "apex" (meaning "summit," referring to the hill on which the historic center is built) or from the Roman personal name "Apicius." Others believe it may have pre-Roman origins, perhaps referring to the Iapygian people or the bull Apis.
History
The history of Apice is very interesting. In Roman times, the territory was crossed by the Appian Way. However, the first mention of the village dates back to the 8th century when the Lombard prince Grimoaldo granted the territory to the Abbey of Montecassino "sub Apice." In the following years, the municipality passed from hand to hand, from Balvano to Maletta, San Giorgio, De Sabran, Guevara, Carafa, Gallucci, and Di Tocco Cantelmo Stuart.
During the Middle Ages, Apice was often at the center of bloody conflicts, such as the one with Guglielmo II of Apulia in 1122 or the siege by Roger II of Sicily in 1138. Under the Angevins, the town participated in the rebellion of Masaniello in an attempt to free itself from Spanish feudalism. In 1494, it was occupied by the French but soon returned as a county.
In the modern history of Apice, the Irpinia and Benevento earthquake of 1702 caused the death of approximately 2.6% of the population of the time, while in 1647 the town participated in the rebellion of Masaniello.
Conclusion
We have come to the end of our tour of Apice. I hope you have appreciated the beauty of this Campanian municipality, which encloses a centuries-old and fascinating history. There is still much to discover about its inhabitants' lives, its cultural heritage, and its typical products, but this was just a brief overview. If you are ever in the area, come and visit Apice with your own eyes!
