Orta di Atella
Orta di Atella: An Agricultural Town
Hello everyone! Today, I want to tell you about my hometown, Orta di Atella. This municipality of approximately 27,500 inhabitants is located in the province of Caserta, in Campania. Its history is very interesting, and it was part of the province of Terra di Lavoro from 1860 to 1927, before becoming part of the Agro aversano district. During the fascist regime, in 1928, it was merged with Sant'Arpino and Succivo in the municipality of Atella di Napoli, but then became autonomous again in 1946, becoming part of the province of Caserta.
Physical Geography
Territory
Orta di Atella is characterized by an agricultural landscape and is completely flat, without any mountainous reliefs. It is located along the path of the Regi Lagni, and the surrounding countryside is dotted with many typical farmhouses of the Campania plain.
Climate
The climate of Orta di Atella is humid, with mild and rainy winters, and hot and humid summers.
Monuments and Places of Interest
The Aragonese Tower
Although there were never any castles in Orta di Atella, the town was called the Castle of Orta until 1862, because of the Aragonese tower that was located there in the fifteenth century. This tower is still present in the municipality's coat of arms.
Other Monuments and Places of Interest
There are many other interesting places to visit in Orta di Atella, such as the Palazzo San Massimo, a beautiful seventeenth-century noble residence that was recently restored in 2020. The Church of San Massimo bishop and confessor is another important attraction, with splendid works of art and paintings from the twentieth century. The Sanctuary of San Salvatore is another noteworthy place, founded in 2000 in the church of San Donato bishop and martyr. The Church of Casapuzzano, dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, was built at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The Franciscan Convent of San Donato, adjacent to the current Sanctuary of San Salvatore, has a seventeenth-century cloister frescoed with late Renaissance grotesques and lunettes depicting episodes from the life of the saint and some of his miracles. Finally, the village of Casapuzzano is another architectural gem in Orta di Atella, with a urban fabric dating back to various historical eras.
The Main Square
The main square of Orta di Atella is a very important place for the town, and was briefly renamed Piazza Pertini before returning to its old name, Piazza Principessa di Belmonte. This public space was designed as a Municipal Garden at the end of the nineteenth century, and in 1948 oaks and acorns were planted, replacing the old plane trees placed in a crown on the two outer sides of the entire square.
I hope this summary has given you an idea of how fascinating Orta di Atella is, with its unique history, places of interest, and its unique agricultural character. If you come to visit Campania, don't forget to include it in your itinerary!
