Recale
All you need to know about Portico di Caserta: history, culture and monuments
Hello everyone! Today I want to tell you about a small Italian town that may not be very well-known, but definitely deserves to be discovered: I'm talking about Portico di Caserta, a municipality in Campania with just over 7,000 inhabitants. In this article, I will talk about its geographical location, history and monuments, as well as its traditions that distinguish it and its cultural life.
Physical geography
Portico di Caserta is located just 8 km southwest of the city of Caserta, and is easily accessible by car from both the "Caserta Nord" and "Caserta Sud" exits of the A1 motorway. The nearest train station is Recale, but the municipality is also well-served by public transport from CLP, which connects it with Caserta, Santa Maria Capua Vetere, and Marcianise. From a climatic point of view, the municipality enjoys a mild climate all year round, with winters that rarely drop below zero and where snow is a very rare event.
History and name origins
The municipality of Portico di Caserta has ancient origins, and mentions of its name can be found as early as the 11th century. Initially, it was a hamlet belonging to Capua, but with the construction of the Royal Palace of Caserta in the eighteenth century, the town experienced significant building expansion and relative prosperity, which attracted numerous illustrious families. In 1928, with the suppression of the province of Terra di Lavoro, Portico di Caserta was annexed to the nearby Macerata Campania, forming a single municipality called Casalba. Only in 1946 did it regain its administrative autonomy, assuming its current name of Portico di Caserta. The toponym Portico, which was the name of the village until 1862, probably derives from the porch of an ancient monument or a similar architectural element.
Monuments and places of interest
Despite its small size, Portico di Caserta boasts some interesting historical and architectural testimonies. Among these, the church of San Pietro Apostolo, dating back to the seventeenth century and which underwent a complete renovation at that time, and the church of San Marcello, built in the nineteenth century and located in the Musicile locality. Crossing the narrow streets of the historic center, you can also admire some historic noble palaces, which testify to the relative prosperity of the town in the eighteenth century.
Society
Demographic evolution
Regarding the demographic evolution of the municipality, it should be noted that Portico di Caserta has experienced a progressive increase in population since the post-war years. Currently, the inhabitants of the municipality are just over 7,000.
Culture
Tradition (Sant'Antuono)
One of the most particular moments of the year in Portico di Caserta is certainly the feast of Sant'Antonio Abate, which is celebrated between 24 and 26 January each year. During this festival, called "Carri, Ritmi e Pastellessa", real allegorical floats in the form of boats with faces of evil spirits can be admired. These floats are pulled by farm tractors and the inhabitants play instruments dating back to the peasant culture of the town, including Botti, Tini and Falci. It is an ancient event but still very much felt by the local population, which attracts thousands of people from all parts of Campania and beyond every year. The group of Bottari of Portico, which performs during the feast of Sant'Antonio Abate, has become particularly famous over the years, to the point of embarking on tours throughout Europe with the musician and singer-songwriter Enzo Avitabile.
Education
Regarding education in Portico di Caserta, there are institutes of kindergarten, primary school, and lower secondary school, and the town also boasts a municipal library. However, there are no institutes of higher education or universities in the area, which means that young people wishing to pursue studies beyond the diploma will have to move elsewhere.
Here is a brief summary of everything you need to know about Portico di Caserta. A town with a millenary history, rich in traditions and with a cultural life waiting to be discovered. I hope this article has made you want to visit this small gem in Campania!
