Formicola
Discovering the Municipality of Formicola, in the province of Caserta
Hello everyone! Today, I will take you on a journey to discover a small municipality in the province of Caserta, called Formicola. Located in a valley among the mountains of Alto Casertano, at the foot of Monte Sant'Erasmo, this town has approximately 1360 inhabitants and is rich in history and places of interest.
The history of Formicola
Like many Italian locations, the name Formicola has ancient and interesting origins. It derives from the Hebrew "fhor-michol" which means "boiling stream", referring to the presence of hot springs in the Trebula area. The area has been inhabited since the ninth century, with the oldest part of the town located in Maiorano.
During the Angevin domination, the barony fief was assigned to Frapane and subsequently, in 1306, was given to Tommaso de Marzano. In 1420, the noble Cubello d'Antignano di Capua founded a fief, which became the fief of the lords of Ratta in 1445. In 1465, the city was entrusted to Diomede I Carafa and his dynasty remained at the head of the fief until its abolition by Giuseppe Bonaparte in 1806.
Over time, many historic buildings have been erected in the town, such as the crenellated tower destroyed in the eighteenth century but still visible in Pontelatone, where a twin tower can be found. In 1806, the Arcadia academy "il Caprario" was founded by Francesco II Carafa, and in 1945, Formicola became part of the newly formed Province of Caserta.
Monuments and places of interest
If you are a lover of art and architecture, Formicola will not disappoint you. Among the main religious monuments, there is the church of Santa Cristina, built near the year 1000 and then replaced by a majestic neoclassical building in the eighteenth century. The church houses a relic of the martyr of Bolsena, from which it takes its name.
Another interesting religious place to visit is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria a Castello, established as a hermitage by the Verginiani around the second half of the twelfth century, after the white monks were forced to adopt the Benedictine rule of Benedict of Nursia.
Finally, the church of All Saints - Fondola is another must-see destination. Records exist of this church dating back to 1282 and it is located on a plot of land called "fundus de Sancti," which gives its name to the entire village.
Conclusions
Formicola is a little-known tourist destination but is rich in history and places of interest. If you are looking for an authentic experience and something off the beaten path, I highly recommend visiting this fascinating town and discovering its millennia-old history.
