Santa Maria Capua Vetere
The history of Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Santa Maria Capua Vetere is an Italian town located in the province of Caserta, in Campania. The city was built on the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Capua, as evidenced by the numerous monuments from that era which can still be admired today, including the Campanian Amphitheater, the second largest after the Colosseum. After the ancient Roman era, the city became a farming village called Santa Maria Maggiore and became part of the universitas capuana.
With the creation of municipalities under Gioacchino Murat, the casali of Santa Maria Maggiore, known as Santa Maria di Capua, and Sant'Angelo in Formis were merged into the municipality of Capua. In 1806, Santa Maria Maggiore was established as a separate municipality and was called Santa Maria Maggiore. Only after the unification of Italy in 1862, did the city assume its current name to avoid confusion with the municipality of Santa Maria Maggiore in Piedmont.
The origin of the name
The name Santa Maria Capua Vetere was established in 1862. The first part of the name, Santa Maria, refers to the denomination that the town has had since 1315 as Santa Maria Maggiore (Capua), derived in turn from the name of the church that was the focal point from which the new town began. The second part of the name, Capua Vetere, instead refers to the ancient city of Capua, which stood right where Santa Maria Capua Vetere is today.
The history of Capua
In the city territory stood Capua, called "altera Roma" by Marcus Tullius Cicero in the 1st century BC. Its origins probably date back to the merger of villages of the Villanovan civilization. Later, it became an Oscan and Etruscan city. However, the city suffered many invasions and was destroyed by invading barbarians. It only resurfaced in the 12th century when three hamlets were built near the Christian basilicas of Santa Maria Maggiore or dei Surechi, San Pietro in Corpo, and Sant'Erasmo in Capitolio.
The territory of Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Santa Maria Capua Vetere is located not far from a large bend in the Volturno River and is sheltered by Mount Tifata. The territory is particularly fertile, so much so that the Romans considered it Campania antica. Over time, many industries (now mostly decommissioned) have been added to agricultural activities. In addition to the court and other territorial institutions, there are departments of the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" and commercial activities.
In conclusion, Santa Maria Capua Vetere is a city with a rich history that can still be admired today thanks to the presence of ancient and well-preserved monuments. The city has undergone several transformations over time but has maintained its original name, which tells its story.
