Casapulla
Exploring the origin of the name Casapulla
Hello everyone! Today we will talk about the town of Casapulla, located in the province of Caserta, in Campania. The name of the town actually has very ancient origins. It is said that the name "Casapulla" derives from "Casapulus", because in the past it was called "Casa Apollonis", or even "Casapollo," in reference to the god Apollo. In fact, near the town there was a temple dedicated to the god. According to some scholars, the name "Casapulla" could derive from the Latin words "casa" and "pullus". "Pullus" has several meanings, including "dark" or "brown", "clean", or "from paululus", which means "new house" or "small house". This helps us understand how the name of the town reflects its ancient origins.
Discovering the history of Casapulla
The history of Casapulla is very ancient and uncertain. The area where the town is located was certainly inhabited in Roman times, when the Romans colonized the region between the Volturno and Savone rivers in 59 BC. But the town we know today was formed only in medieval times. After the formation of the town, the history becomes uncertain until the establishment of the municipality, which took place on March 18, 1861. During its history, Casapulla was part of different provinces, such as the province of Terra di Lavoro and the old province of Naples. In 1931, the fascist regime suppressed the municipalities of Casapulla, Curti and San Prisco, merging their territories into the municipality of Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Casapulla regained its administrative independence only in 1947.
Places of interest in Casapulla
One of the main attractions of Casapulla is the church of Sant'Elpidio, located in the historic center of the town, in Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII. Built in late Baroque style, the church was consecrated in 1467 by Bishop Angelo Mazziotta. Tradition has it that the church was built in the fifth century by Elpidio of Atella, bishop of Atella, in the time of Pope Siricius. This church stood on the foundations of a temple dedicated to the Greek god Apollo.
The church underwent renovations and expansions in the following centuries and became the main place of worship in Casapulla. Inside, you can admire the splendid oil paintings on canvas and a beautiful marble altar. It is said that the church housed a valuable crucifix, which was later stolen in 1968. Next to the church of Sant'Elipidio is the town hall, an elegant building in Umbertino style, dating back to the late nineteenth century.
Casapulla today
Today Casapulla is a lively and picturesque small town, famous for the production of high-quality cheeses. In the heart of the historic center there is a small square, where you can taste local specialties, such as cheeses from the area and typical handicraft products.
In addition, the town organizes various festivals and events every year, such as the patronal festival of Sant'Elpidio, which takes place in April and attracts visitors from all over the region. During the festival, you can enjoy folk music performances, parades and all kinds of shows.
Conclusions
We have come to the end of our journey to discover Casapulla. As we have learned, the name of the town has very ancient origins and reflects the city's past, which has experienced various ups and downs over the centuries. Today, Casapulla is a lively town where tradition blends with modern influences and where you can taste local delicacies and admire splendid ancient monuments. If you have the opportunity to visit Campania, I recommend stopping in Casapulla and discovering everything that this small town has to offer.
