Guardia Sanframondi
Discovering Guardia Sanframondi
Hello friends! Today I will talk to you about Guardia Sanframondi, a small Italian town in the province of Benevento in Campania.
Physical geography
Guardia Sanframondi is a medieval village that dominates the entire Telesina Valley. The territory is almost exclusively hilly and offers a mild climate and a breathtaking landscape. Here there are coniferous and oak forests, but above all vast expanses of vineyards and olive groves that produce fine wines.
Geology and hydrography
The territory of Guardia Sanframondi is characterized by a succession of argillites, calcarenites, calcirudites and sandstones. The municipality is crossed by several torrential watercourses, such as the Seneta stream and the Ratello stream, which crosses the entire town center.
History
The origins of the town are still a matter of debate among historians. Some date it back to Roman or Samnite times, others to the Lombard or Norman period. What is certain is that the territory has been inhabited since ancient times. Flint and Neolithic artifacts have been found in the nearby districts.
Traditions
Guardia Sanframondi is known for its seven-year penance rituals in honor of the Assumption, a celebration dating back to the XV century. In addition, the town is also famous for its fine wines.
Personalities related to Guardia Sanframondi
The renowned anthropologist Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza studied the population of Guardia Sanframondi for years. The town has also given birth to Vincenzo Romano, a priest who was proclaimed a saint by Pope Francis in 2018.
The history of Guardia Sanframondi
As I told you earlier, the origins of Guardia Sanframondi are not entirely clear. Some scholars date it back to Roman or Samnite times, but the first written testimonies date back to the Lombard period, when the town was called "Guardia dei Longobardi". In the XII century, Guardia Sanframondi was part of the county of Cerreto Sannita, which was ruled by the Sanframondo family and then by the Carafa family. The name of the city derives from the Sanframondo family, which built a powerful castle guarding the Titerno River, which played a leading role in two sieges in the fifteenth century.
Guardia Sanframondi underwent various changes of dominion over the centuries and was subject to looting and destruction by various military powers. In 1860, with the advent of the Kingdom of Italy, the town had a period of peace and development.
The territory of Guardia Sanframondi
Guardia Sanframondi is located in a hilly area, with a mild climate and a breathtaking landscape. Its territory is mainly occupied by vineyards and olive groves. The town is crossed by several torrential watercourses, such as the Seneta stream and the Ratello stream, which crosses the entire town center.
The traditions of Guardia Sanframondi
Guardia Sanframondi is famous for its seven-year penance rituals in honor of the Assumption, a celebration dating back to the XV century. The festival takes place every seven years and attracts thousands of visitors from around the world. The procession sees the participation of hundreds of people dressed in traditional costumes, carrying heavy candles and descending the steep stairs of the old city.
In addition, Guardia Sanframondi is also known for its fine wines, such as Falanghina del Sannio DOC, Greco di Tufo DOCG and Taurasi DOCG.
Personalities related to Guardia Sanframondi
Guardia Sanframondi has given birth to several prominent personalities over the centuries. One of the most famous is Vincenzo Romano, a priest who was proclaimed a saint by Pope Francis in 2018. Romano is known for having founded various charitable works in his hometown and for having been the parish priest for over 50 years of the Church of the Santissima Annunziata. In addition, the renowned anthropologist Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza studied the population of Guardia Sanframondi for years and his results have been published in numerous books and studies.
