Ventaroli
Ventaroli: the small village in Campania
Hello everyone, today I want to talk about Ventaroli, a small hamlet of Carinola, a municipality about 30 km away in the province of Caserta. With its 149 inhabitants, Ventaroli is a very suggestive place full of history.
Events
Every year, Ventaroli celebrates a patronal festival in honor of Saints Philip and James. During the festival, which represents one of the most important moments of the year for the village, many events take place, such as live music concerts and fireworks shows.
Monuments and places of interest
Church of Santa Maria in Foro Claudio
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Ventaroli is the church of Santa Maria in Foro Claudio. This small paleochristian basilica was built between the 5th and 6th century AD on the remains of a Roman temple. The church was the cathedral from the 6th to the 11th century and was the episcopal seat before its transfer to Carinola around the year 1000.
Inside the church, it is possible to admire frescoes of inestimable value for the patterns that are found in them, made from the 10th to the 16th century approximately, of a late-Byzantine and popularizing style. The church is dedicated to the celebration of the Holy Mass every day at 7:30 AM, except on Saturday, when the Mass is celebrated at 7:30 PM.
Other monuments
In addition to the church of Santa Maria in Foro Claudio, there are also other interesting places to visit in Ventaroli. For example, there is the main square of the village, where you can admire the bell tower and the statue of Padre Pio. Furthermore, there is the childhood home of Matilde Serao, the famous writer born in Patrasso in 1856. Matilde Serao was a prominent figure in Italian cultural life and was a pioneer of female journalism.
Matilde Serao's childhood home belongs to another family, but there is a plaque on it that commemorates the great writer. Every year the Municipality of Carinola organizes a poetry prize named after Matilde Serao, to remember her importance in Italian literature.
The history of Ventaroli and the Serao family
Ventaroli has a long history, which has seen many important figures, including the Serao family. Francesco Serao, a lawyer and journalist native of Ventaroli, but resident in Naples, was forced to leave the city in 1848 because he was anti-Bourbon and wanted by the authorities. During his exile in Greece, he met Paolina Borely and Matilde Serao was born.
The Serao family lived in Ventaroli in 1860, when there were still clashes and riots in the kingdom and in Naples in particular. This stay in the father's hometown was a way for the family to find some peace in such a turbulent time.
Conclusions
Ventaroli is a village full of charm and history. Its church of Santa Maria in Foro Claudio, the frescoes inside the church, the main square of the village, the childhood home of Matilde Serao and the patronal festival are just some of the reasons why it is worth visiting this place. I hope I have piqued your curiosity with this presentation and made you want to visit Ventaroli!
