Caiazzo Explained

Caiazzo
Official Name:Comune di Caiazzo
Coordinates:41.1778°N 14.3639°W
Region:Campania
Province:Caserta (CE)
Frazioni:San Giovanni e Paolo, Cesarano
Mayor:Stefano Giaquinto
Area Total Km2:36
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:5547
Population As Of:31 March 2017
Population Demonym:Caiatini
Elevation M:200
Saint:St. Stefano Minicillo
Day:October 29
Postal Code:81013
Area Code:0823
Website:http://www.caiazzo.gov.it

Caiazzo is a city and comune in the province of Caserta (Campania) in Italy. It is located on the right bank of the Volturnus, some 20km (10miles) northeast of Capua.

History

The ancient Caiatia was already in the hands of the Romans in 306 BC, and since in the 3rd century BC it issued copper coins with a Latin legend it must have had the Latin: civitas sine suffragio. In the Social War it rebelled from Rome, and its territory was added to that of Capua by Sulla. In the imperial period, however, it was once more a Latin: municipium.

In the Middle Ages it belonged to the Lombard Duchy of Benevento and the County of Capua. The episcopal see was founded in 966. Later Frederick II established here a Treasure Court. It had a castle which was enlarged by the Angevines and, during the reign of Alfonso V of Aragon, housed his mistress Lucrezia d'Alagno. Later Caiazzo was the fief of numerous baronial families of the Kingdom of Naples.

Caiazzo was the seat of anti-royal rebellions at the times of the Neapolitan Republic, and also housed several Carbonari. Despite this, Caiazzo was one of the few towns in the kingdom whose population sided against Garibaldi's expedition which annexed southern Italy to Piedmont.

During World War II, retreating German troops massacred 22 civilians here.

Main sights

Caiazzo has remains of Cyclopean or polygonal masonry walls, and under the Piazza del Mercato is a large Roman cistern, which for centuries continued to provide a good water supply.

The Lombard castle is still in existence.

Sister cities

Caiazzo has a sister relationship with:

Notes and References

  1. All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.