Torella del Sannio
Welcome to Torella del Sannio!
Hello everyone! Today I will talk to you about Torella del Sannio, a beautiful municipality in the province of Campobasso, Molise. With a population of about 1,200 inhabitants, Torella del Sannio is an ancient village that saw its current structure born around the 18th century.
Let's discover the physical geography of Torella del Sannio
The village is mainly structured on two hills: the Colle, representing the new part, and the Ciglione, where the oldest part of the village develops, with the castle and the church dominating it. Torella del Sannio is located between the main rivers of the region, Trigno and Biferno, and thanks to its elevated position it allows you to see a panorama composed of the mountains of Maiella and Gran Sasso.
The history of Torella del Sannio
Torella del Sannio has a rich and interesting history. According to legend, the village rose from the top of the hill down to the valley around the 9th century, thanks to the construction of a tower by the Lombards. In the 13th century, the castle was fortified by the Angevins and the parish church of San Nicola was also built. In the 15th century, the fiefdom passed to Alfonso d'Aragona who remodeled the circular towers. After the decline of the Aragonese in Molise, the Ducal Castle passed to the Carafa, Caracciolo, and in the 18th century to the Ciamarra who were the last owners. Until the early 20th century, the village maintained a purely feudal and agricultural economy. In more recent times, in the 1960s, the village suffered depopulation due to emigration to Campobasso or outside the region, but the center still relies on agriculture, construction and services.
The tragedy of Monongah
Few know that Torella del Sannio was involved in a disaster that marked the history of the United States of America. On December 6, 1907, in the town of Monongah, West Virginia, the Monongah Disaster occurred, the most serious that the history of the United States remembers. 12 of the victims came from Torella del Sannio.
Monuments and places of interest
If you find yourself in Torella del Sannio, you can't miss the medieval Castle. It is located on top of Colle Ciglione, high above the village, where the first Lombard tower of the 9th century was built. In the 13th century, it was fortified as a real castle by the Angevins. In the 15th century, it was expanded by the Aragonese and subsequently passed to various barons including the Francone, Caracciolo and Ciamarra families. The castle has the shape of a noble palace with an irregular rectangular plan with brick masonry. It has three circular towers with a top decorated with battlements and a cone-shaped roof and a lower square tower. The ownership of the Castle is currently divided between the family of Pasquale Venditti of Bojano and the families of Mariano Pica Ciamarra and Leonardo Cammarano. The Castle also houses the Museum dedicated to the painter Elena Ciamarra Cammarano.
Conclusions
In summary, Torella del Sannio is a small municipality with ancient charm and a fascinating history. The medieval Castle remains one of the most important monuments, but Torella del Sannio is also an ideal place to relax and enjoy breathtaking views. If you are in the area, do not hesitate to visit this beautiful village!
