Camposano
Camposano: the beauty of the metropolitan city of Naples
Camposano, or ''Cambasànë'' as it is called in the local dialect, is a municipality of the metropolitan city of Naples, located about 30 kilometers east of the capital and part of the Nola area. With a population of 5063 inhabitants, it presents itself as a welcoming and characteristic place, where history and territory merge to create a unique atmosphere.
Physical geography
Camposano is located along the path of the ancient Clanis River, which constitutes the border between Camposano and Cicciano. The town still retains some traces of Roman centrurization with the classical checkerboard layout. Camposano presents itself as a place immersed in nature, an oasis of tranquility away from the chaos of the city, where one can appreciate the natural beauty of Campania.
Origins of the name
The origin of the toponym "Camposano" has undergone various changes over the years. It is in fact attested around the mid-eighteenth century as "Campasano", while in other documents, including a military report and an illustration of the Diocese of Nola, it is mentioned as "Campassano". It does not seem connected to "campo" (field), but rather could derive from a Latin personal name "Campasius", with the suffix "-ānus", typical of ethnicities. The vowel "-o-" would therefore be a parethymology reconstruction. Similarly, the derivation from a temple dedicated to the god Janus called "Campus Iani" and the story of Nola refugees who found salvation and health there from which the place would have been called "Campo sano" are to be considered parethymologies.
History
The origins of the town seem to date back to the time of the Second Punic War. The first evidence of frequentation of the territory dates back to the period between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD thanks to the discovery of some Roman funerary steles, some of which are presumptively set in the pavement of the church of the Holy Cross. There are also some portions of Roman columns, one of which used as a base for the statue of San Gavino placed in the newly built municipal villa.
The first news about Camposano dates back to 1308, when the place was a simple cluster of houses. This small village grew thanks to many refugees who preferred the fresh air of the countryside, and thanks to this, the population number gradually rose from about a hundred people. A particular flourishing moment occurred in the second half of the eighteenth century with the realization of the main road that connects Camposano to the various centers of the Nolano Agro.
In the autumn of 1842, the first division of the royal army, commanded by Field Marshal Lecca, occupied the area, deploying 7 infantry battalions of Lieutenant Wonderweid's brigade on the territory of "Campassano".
In 2020, thanks to its attention to the environment, it was included among the most ecological municipalities in Italy.
Symbols
The municipal coat of arms and flag of Camposano were granted by Decree of the President of the Republic on January 19th, 1976.
In summary, Camposano is a municipality rich in history and natural beauty, a place where tradition and modernity merge to create a unique atmosphere. Its attention to the environment makes it an example at the national level, and its territory, crossed by the Clanis River, offers suggestive and relaxing landscapes that invite you to discover this gem of the metropolitan city of Naples.
