Santa Maria a Vico
Santa Maria a Vico: let's discover this wonderful city together
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Santa Maria a Vico, a beautiful city in the province of Caserta, in Campania. With its 14,093 inhabitants and its position at 83 meters above sea level, this Italian municipality is one of the most fascinating places I have ever seen.
A city surrounded by wonders
Santa Maria a Vico is a city that borders the Tifatini Hills to the north and, albeit for a short distance, with the Municipality of Durazzano to the south, San Felice a Cancello to the east, Cervino (Italy) and Maddaloni to the west. Furthermore, it is completely developed on the Appian Way, both the ancient and the new one, making it a city of great historical and archaeological interest.
A city rich in ancient and recent history
The history of Santa Maria a Vico is very interesting: the city was built by the Romans during the Second Samnite War, for military purposes. Once the function of a military city had ended, the Appian Way was opened to public traffic and to meet the needs of travelers and inhabitants, the city was enriched with new houses and food venues. The new village was called "Vicus Novanensis".
With the arrival of the barbarians, the Vicus was destroyed and the inhabitants scattered on the hills. Later on, the city was rebuilt and passed into the hands of the district of Nola and Arienzo; this dependence ended with the arrival of the French in Italy, who made it an autonomous municipality. Over the years, Santa Maria a Vico has had remarkable development as a commercial square of southern Italy thanks to the presence of the Aragonese.
Monuments and places of interest
Santa Maria a Vico is a city rich in history, with many monuments and places of interest. Among these, there are the Basilica of Maria SS. Assunta and Complesso Aragonese, which in 1957 was elevated to the dignity of a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII. Then there is the Parish Church of S. Nicola Magno and Maria SS. del Carmine, located in the Loreto hamlet. There are also places of historical relevance such as the centuries-old stone bridges in the Loreto hamlet, S. Vincenzo Ferreri in the Mandre hamlet, the Lauretana Congregation of the XVII century, located in Piazza Roma, the S. Anna Chapel in the Migliori locality, the S. Anna Chapel in the Rosciano hamlet and the Church of the Madonna Addolorata in the Ruotoli hamlet. Finally, we cannot forget the impressive monuments to the ancient crafts of Santa Maria a Vico, such as the bronze statues depicting "The Embroiderer", "The Shoemaker", "The Farm Workers" and "The Emigrant" located in Piazza Umberto I (Cellaio locality).
Don't miss the famous "barrel-shaped houses", so called because of the characteristic shape of the barrel vault, and the "Borgo degli Innamorati" (Lovers' Village).
Population density and demographic evolution of the city
Despite being a small city, Santa Maria a Vico has a population density of 1,301 people per square kilometer, one of the highest in the province of Caserta.
Festivals and Celebrations
Every year, during the summer period, various neighborhood festivals are held, mainly in honor of religious figures. The most important of these is Ferragosto in honor of the Madonna Assunta, during which it is possible to witness parades of votive floats, which go around the city. Furthermore, every 25 years, the statue of the Madonna Assunta, located in the Basilica of Maria SS. Assunta, is carried around the village (pulled by white oxen). The event is repeated on special occasions such as the Jubilee or the centenary coronation of the Virgin. On Good Friday, a procession is organized every year through the streets of the city.
Conclusions
In short, Santa Maria a Vico is a wonderful city rich in history, monuments and places of interest. If you have the opportunity to visit it, do it! You can discover all its secrets and let yourself be enchanted by the charm of its architecture and the people who live there, who will be happy to welcome you.
